My Letter to the World

THIS is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me,—
The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty.
Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!

from Emily Dickenson

Pathographies are illness narratives.  As we consider death and dying, we hear from physicians, social workers, psychologists, ethicists, hospice personnel, lawyers, politicians, economists -- but rarely from the dying themselves. That is why, when an eloquent voice appears, we should pay attention.  See: Goodbye2015….Hello 2016!

New Year's Letter from a Dying Friend

This letter is shared here with the author's permission 

Goodbye 2015….Hello 2016!

I’m not sure how this is going to go, but it’s something I’ve been struggling with for the past 6 months and ‘don’t want to continue. I want the freedom to bring my friends into my realm and have them understand why I haven’t seen or talked to them lately.

Also, it means a lot to me to offer another view of living and dying. Or who knows, this may be the prevalent way and others just haven’t found the need to express it.

I have hesitated to share this news with so many people because I didn’t want them to feel sad, or feel like I’m being overly dramatic. I understand they have all experienced death with a family member or close friend who may have chosen to deal with it privately. I understand as much as anyone could. But as you know, that’s not me.

Here is N.'s full letter. 

(If you want to write a few words to the author, you can do so through David Elpern.)