The March of Death
Life is Short. Live It With Gusto!
There were four of them. Two women ages 78 and 91. Two men ages 53 and 103. They didn’t know each other. They were from different cities, different backgrounds, different ethnicities, and led different lives. Despite their apparent differences, this month, in their different communities, they had something in common. They died.
Through unrelated circumstances, I knew them well enough that I wanted to pay my respects to their families and say a final goodbye.
In seven days, I attended 3 funerals and visited a person in the hospital. The in-patient was making surprisingly good physical progress and expected a transfer to the rehabilitation unit. I did not expect to write this story about a somber quartet.
Like life itself, March is a paradox. In March the stark quiet beauty of winter battles with the introduction of Spring. Blustery rain storms and violent tornadoes erupt bringing us early buds doomed by the inevitable frost of night.
Since the days of Julius Caesar, the Ides of March (March 15th), were associated with danger and misfortune. Two days later, it is St. Patrick’s Day and time to celebrate! It is the excited luck of the Irish with drinks, rivers, and ponds dyed green. Three days later, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the first day of Spring or the vernal equinox. For me, March is always like whiplash. One day, I think my seasonal allergies are beginning, and a few days later, there is snow in the forecast.
Even though I appreciate the reputation of March, attending three funerals within a week was surreal. The experience triggered thoughts about what is important in my life. As I read the obituaries, I learned how the departed impacted others. The deceased were so distinctly different and yet on Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday, their families could have substituted for one another. Grief knows no age, no race, and no status.
Attending the services these families have arranged has inspired me to remind loved ones that I love them by literally saying, “I love you.” More of my time is spent in nature appreciating things I have zipped past for years. Last week, I took a leisurely two-mile walk with a new friend. We saw a small herd of deer while bald eagles circled overhead.
According to scientists Earth is 4.5 billion years old. The oldest independently verified living person was a French woman, who died at 122 years old. Most of us won’t live that long, which proves life is short. I have a more laser focus on being around people and pursuing activities that contribute to my well-being because of March 2025.
However, there is a 47-year-old tech millionaire, Bryan Johnson (no relation), who is trying to live forever. He founded Venmo and sold it for $800 million and launched his “Don’t Die” project. Johnson has an estimated 1.7M followers on Instagram, about 562,000 on what was called Twitter, and 1.4M subscribers on YouTube. His story is on Netflix and his website is blueprint.bryanjohnson.com. For the fun of it, I’d love to outlive him!
In 2023, an average of 8,470 people died daily in the United States (almost 60,000 per week.) In 2025, the World Population Review estimates 8,990 Americans will die daily. Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional accidents with injuries will comprise the three highest causes of death in America according to the WPR.
This leads to a final thought about my experiences with death and dying this month. Gratitude. I am grateful for every day I wake up able to pursue my interests and goals. I am thankful to share my experiences with you, my Older, Bolder & Better! community. Please consider sharing this post with someone you love!
“Choose being kind over being right and you will be right every time.” Dr. Richard Carlson
So much wise information! Thanks for reminding me that life is short!
Brenda - I miss you.