I Need to Know
By Lizzy Miles
This Death Café was
an exciting event because we had just recently been featured in the Huffington
Post in an article, “Death Cafes grow as a Place to Discuss,
Learn about End of Life.” The article garnered hundreds of comments and
I started to get emails from people who were interested in attending. I worried
that we might have TOO big of a crowd.
But let’s be real
here. People aren’t beating down
the doors to have a conversation about death. It take a brave soul to face
their own mortality. I used to worry about attendance, but now I just let it
flow. The Death Café has taught me that everything happens as it should. We had
a good size group of fifteen people and discussions in groups of five. When the
discussion started to wane slightly at one table due to a disproportionate
number of introverts, we mixed the groups up. What I really love is that we now have repeat attendees and
we have brand new attendees.
Also present at
this event was a radio reporter. When we were discussing his potential
attendance, I set the ground rules. No recording during the Death Café. He had
to participate as a regular guy. Then afterwards, we would ask for volunteers
as to who would be willing to talk for radio. Several people volunteered and we
had a mini Death Café discussion. The reporter had been assigned the story and
was not sure how he felt about listening to people talk about death for two
hours. After the event though, he acknowledged that it was actually an
interesting conversation. I felt he did a good job of capturing the essence of
the Death Café in his WOSU broadcast, “Columbus Death Café concept Spreads Across
the U.S.”
The reporter
mentioned that the first Death Café in New York City is coming up. As a side
note, if any New Yorkers are reading this, the date for the NYC event is
actually February 20th. I have been sharing some best practice ideas
with Audrey Pellicano, who will be facilitating that event. I am so happy to
see the Death Café concept spreading to the bigger cities.
So what did we talk
about at this event? As always, new stuff. I wonder if I will ever stop being
amazed. The most amusing thing that I heard was a living will specification
which was expressed in all seriousness, but with knowledge that it was quirky.
I asked for and was
granted permission to share this. One attendee has a note in her living will
that says if she is in a coma: When all
else fails, play Marc Anthony’s I Need to Know. She even has the CD attached to her
living will.
If you take out the
part that he is singing to a girl, the lyrics are actually quite appropriate.
They say around the way you've asked for me
There's even talk about you wanting me
I must admit that's what I want to hear
But that's just talk until you take me there, oh
If it's true don't leave me all alone out here
Wondering if you're ever gonna take me there
Wow. I wonder if
Marc Anthony ever thought of the dual meaning of his song lyrics?
We talked about so
much more than what could be summarized here, but you’ll just have to come to a
Death Café for yourself to see what it is like. The next Columbus Death Café is March 13th. No RSVP required. The event will be from 7-9 p.m. at the
Westerville Panera 782 N. State Street.
Please contact Lizzymiles@gmail.com
with questions.
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As always, to
follow Death Café events worldwide, please visit www.deathcafe.com
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