Death and dying.

In the last week I have heard about three people I new have all died. Two of them were teaching colleagues the other a very close friend of a friend. Its created a strange feeling in me. As someone who is almost never ill-the hand of of the 'grim reaper' feels much closer since I heard this news. Apart from my parents and a few other people I have been spared the trauma of too many deaths. However as I get older I now anticipate hearing or reading about someone I new having died. Of course death-like taxes-is inevitable but its a topic that is not easy to think or talk about-especially to those close to you. I'm reading a biography of John Osborne at the moment-his life was a constant rant-not only in Look Back in Anger-but throughout his life. There were occasions when the bile of hate was less in evidence, but overall it was unremitting and eventually terminal. There is a term in the medical profession-the pre-morbid personality. What does it mean? What was the person like pre-the onset of the illness? What were the causal factors leading to the referral? Death brings in its wake so many feelings about the death of the person. Inevitable feelings of guilt-should I have done more or could I have done more? Its only in the last few years that organisations like Dignitas in Switzerland and Dignity in Dying have be around to offer information about-assisted suicide. This issue will become increasingly important as we have an ever increasing elderly population. For my part I hope I have many years of health and happiness in front of me. Cheers!