The FEAR Chronicles: Dying Alone

[legend956]

it happens more then you think we live in shallow times indeed

[webventures]

dying alone i was left waiting with a glimmer of joy for angels or st. peter maybe the predeceased and there i remained in the freezing void no light no sound no hope such a scene haunting me forever

[webventures]

dying alone i was laid to rest against my wishes in a plain pine box covered with earth as an unknown pastor delivered a generic eulogy to a gathering of none such a scene haunting me forever

[webventures]

The Haunting dying alone i eventually crossed the great divide between life and death and i saw strangers in my little house rummaging through my things all respect tossed aside such a scene haunting me forever

[webventures]

Living alone and no family whatsoever? I am used to it. Dying alone and nobody evening knowing for an extended period of time? No fear. Death comes eventually. It is but a phase of life. However, what if you crossed that divide and found that...well, let my poem describe what it may be like in the next post.

I very much like the way you came across in your video. Well done :-)

[stewmic1]

This is a cause that I am very passionate about. People can become isolated for a variety of reasons. I am working on a plan that can give some control over your personal welfare. Dignity in health and death should be available to everyone!

[SydTheSkeptic]

Wow, that's very commendable of you. Someone once gave me some pretty good advice: If you want to be an agent for change and not get overwhelmed, choose ONE cause that you're most passionate about, learn all you can about that cause and take action. That also includes educating our representatives about that cause.

Education's my thing, but this is a great one to be an advocate for. Best of luck to you on your endeavors!

[leebee226]

you a u2 fan? you seen there album," no light on the horizon"? respond to this will yah? oh yeah,and great vid.

[U2bianSynic]

A big u2 fan, but the name is more a play on "youtube"- a shortened version. U2 fan works, though. o)

[poetlorryit]

I fancy you U2bianSynic, you are clever, I like that.

[leebee226]

nice

[LMorgan1234]

Dying alone is not what scares me most. Living alone is much, much scarier.

[U2bianSynic]

I hear ya. I think the thing that scares me the most is living the kind of life where no one would even notice if you were gone!

[poetlorryit]

I will probably die alone because I am happy with my own company. I see a relationship as a complication, as a compromise, u have to live by their rules to some extent and thereby lose some freedom. I used to be lonely but at 40 I'm used to it now. I woud'nt make a good partner as most folks try my patience and bore the hell outa me.

[U2bianSynic]

Heh- right there with ya!  (sorry I missed this when you first posted it!)

[shas1814]

I think most fear of dying in our society come from the evil fables of Eternal Hell. I'm dying without fear. I don't love the idea, I'd much rather stay a while and see my children build their lives and families. But I have no fear. Why have I no fear? Because I no longer believe in the Great Sadist who invented an eternal torture chamber in which he plans to torture most of humanity for ever. Live with love, not fear. Throw away those evil fables!

[U2bianSynic]

Right there with ya!

Although I do appreciate fables for the cultural relics they truly are.

Thanks for the response!

[Barrylane55]

for me it's fear of dyiing at night in a Holiday inn.All that bad green carpeting and the plastic glasses wrapped in plastic, I like your final conclusion. We all live lives of noisy desperation. We crave to matter. I love the way you make your videos.

[U2bianSynic]

Ah, yes- poor Mr. Riccardi. He would've been discovered a lot sooner had he been at the Holiday Inn, plastic-wrapped plastic cups 'n' all. ;o) thanks, you.

[Beirj]

Always am Afraid to be Alone and die alone

[U2bianSynic]

That's a hard fear to live with, I would imagine. I'm sorry for that- I hope you have peace with it at some point.

[dnisey64]

I've always worried about being alone when I die. I don't worry about dying just being alone and no one knowing or even caring.

[U2bianSynic]

After putting this up, I learned that a lot of people had that fear. I made this really because I was outraged that no one saw the signs at least. Then it made me wonder how many of us stay in bad relationships because we fear that THIS might happen to us and we don't want to be alone those last few moments, or- like you said, that no one would care. I don't know the answer but I know that your fear seems universal. Thanks for commenting!

[GeminiAuntie]

I'm with you with the whole death thing. I've been raised around it so I've been taught from a very young age that no matter what, we all die so why fear something you can't control? However the whole fear of dying alone does scare me because I wanna leave this life knowing I did some good and not be forgotten.

[U2bianSynic]

I'll bet that we can do so much good in this world and still die alone- in fact, I wonder if that's how it is at the end, even with all your loved ones around you- that really, you see how truly alone you are at that moment, but you're perfectly okay with it.

I guess I'm hoping that's how it is.

[GeminiAuntie]

You have a good point! I found out a week ago that I might have bladder cancer. I go in for a biopsy on Tuesday so they can know for sure, but they found a growth and it's funny that I'm the one that's telling everyone else to calm down and how I'm the one that's the most at peace with the whole situation. Course I learned that that stuff is a fact of life. But yet the fear of leaving without making an impact remains. But I just hope I help shape my nieces into good people before I leave

[waemji423h]

Why be afraid? Death will be THE ultimate experience of your life!

I'm looking forward to it. It'll be fun. :D

[U2bianSynic]

I've never been scared of death, personally. I love life, but death is inevitable, so why waste time worrying about it, eh?

[U2bianSynic]

Thanks!

[veranichole1981]

This is me! Ever since I lost half my family I've been terrified my husband will die next and then I'll really be alone. I've told him that if he goes first I'm going to become a Nun...lol. but it's really because I don't want to be alone but I wouldn't imagine I'd ever want to be with anyone else.

[mikenewpal]

I think we live in a society where ppl are so self consumed with their own lives that they are completly oblivious to others around them, although we are creatures of social interaction, the interaction itself has become so superficial that we simply find outselves going though the motions without any substantial meaning. so in a way many of us are just as alone in our own shell of isolation in the midst of those we chose to surround ourselves with as an old man watching tv in an empty house.

[U2bianSynic]

I was just talking with someone today about this video and it was exactly what you state here that bugs me so much about the story of that guy- that no one thought to even check on him, and yet they knew he was elderly and blind. It's not so much the death as it is a statement of disregard for others!

[kaderulz]

if he was blind why was he whatching tv?

[U2bianSynic]

Good question. Why not the radio? Who knows. Just hope he went peacefully in his sleep.

[iconoclastic23]

That must have been a damn good TV.

[U2bianSynic]

heh funny...and sad at the same time ;-)

[torigirl35]

i watched this again tonight...something to sincerely ponder.

[Elaina43]

The second option is FAR more scary to me. Living a life so isolated that no one knows I'm dead... for 14 months... yikes!

[U2bianSynic]

I agree

[vidmakr]

W O W!!! you hit a bulls-eye with that one! "what's scarier, dying alone, or living a life where no one would notice if you died? (for 2years)"

DEEP!!!

I am coming to grips with the reality that I will die alone..but is it vain to want to be remembered? Fondly???

[U2bianSynic]

Maybe it really means you want to be of value in some way. I don't know if that's vain, but If that's how you're living- as a person of value, then it can't be bad. What does it look like to be of value?

[amjiva]

There is only the illusion of being alone.

[StephStance]

That was so sad, I remember hearing about that. Its just crazy

[jungletekno]

That was sad :(' ' '

[LeilaniRocks]

Sad...but seemed appropriate to respond with a recent cover...nice if someone could have sang it to Vincenzo.

[torigirl35]

here you go syd...my video is done and attached to this. thanks... *tori*

[satrlanl]

I could literally write volumes based on the sh*t I've gone through, but I won't here, unless someone specifically asks me. I fear absolutely nothing anymore.

[satrlanl]

Everyday routines taken for granted by most other people are a struggle for me, but I know that if I have absolutely nobody else on earth to love me, I will always have God. And He has promised me salvation.

[satrlanl]

If you accept Jesus as your savior, you will ultimately not die alone, or ever really be alone for that matter. I've had diabetes since I was 8 years old. At age 34, I've suffered every known affliction as the result (partial blindness, several heart attacks/quadruple bypass, kidney failure, neuropathy, infections, etc). Am I scared of dying alone? I used to be...when I wasn't even AS sick.

[U2bianSynic]

I am glad you've found peace within yourself. You might've thought I was continuing to be snide with you when I responded to your "psycho" tag with "I love you", but, in actually, I meant it in the same spirit as Jesus might have when addressing those who were casting stones so quickly.

[mrsmokidd]

There could be a crowd of relatives and friends around our bedside, yet we still die alone!

[curt344]

Just wanted to let you know I was here.

:-)

[TheBlessedBlogger]

Now you know why I make my videos. People think they're connected, that people need them, remember them. But do we actually contribute to the world, do we do anything that makes a difference, are we forging real relationships? A lot of people aren't. I wasn't.

[U2bianSynic]

I wonder, though, if I'm equating quality of life with human contact. I mean, it's important to connect with others, but even survivalist-types living out in the wilds can have a fulfilled life. Who's to say this man didn't, right? I'm questioning that. I'm questioning why I just assume what I do about his life, which makes me wonder what fears of my own are at play here.

[threeheadedbaby]

the visual of a man sitting in a chair, a corpse in front of a tv that broadcasts all day and all night for week after month after year while the sun comes up and goes down, the trees grow leaves that turn brown and fall off again, the rain falls, the snow comes, the flowers bloom and the birds sing and all the while news is broadcast and sitcoms with canned laughter fill the empty room...well almost empty.

[U2bianSynic]

SHit, Deb. THAT is quite the beginnings of a poem right there. I am totally gonna go for that one. Thank you. There are multiple layers of stuff to be found there. I can feel it. Thanks.

[girlybottom]

Reminds me of a couple similar cases I heard about. In one a single woman in her early 40s who worked in an office in London was found dead in her flat a couple of years later. The telly was on as were the christmas tree lights. There presents wrapped under the tree, the intended recipients(or givers) of which obviously had other things to think about.

[U2bianSynic]

That's sad. Paul, I was so glad to see your latest vid. I posted a comment, but of course, I haven't seen it there yet (f-king yt)

[Ravensinger]

Living a life where no one even knew you died is definitely the saddest of the two. What a wonderful thing that you did for him here. Peace!

[PastaBaby]

My apartment will be rented by the time the ambulance gets my body from my apartment and brings it to the morgue.

[U2bianSynic]

That's funny, knowing you live in New York. Real estate is GOLD.

[zooropa1967]

I read something a while back about how when you use BILL PAY from banks that sometimes its too effective. And that a canadian guy was found dead in his home and had been dead for 2 years. All his monthly bills were being paid! :-o I think I need to talk to my mailman and tell him if I dont get my mail for 3 days CALL THE POLICE! -Patty

[U2bianSynic]

Oh no. I gave you a new fear. :-{

[zooropa1967]

Thanks for that! No really thanks...thankssss a lot! lol :)

[GeorgeLikesTacos]

I saw this too and had similar thoughts.

[ItalianStallionette]

this is quite beautiful. You gave him a lovely and long overdue tribute. I'm glad that I was able to share it with you my friend...peace 2 u