Coping with Death

Army Major Andrew Olmsted, a blogger and soldier, died fighting for liberty in Iraq on 3 January. I must admit that I had not read his blog until I read this moving text written by Major Olmsted to be published in the event of his own death:

What I don’t want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I’m dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren’t going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I’ve enjoyed in my life. So if you’re up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw ’Freedom Isn’t Free’ from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can’t laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I’m dead, but if you’re reading this, you’re not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

When posting this entry I also think of my friends in Amsterdam who only days ago suffered a great loss when their friend died unexpectedly. Perhaps Mr Olmsted’s words somehow can capture what your friend was about and give you strength at the funeral on Monday. Your friend is dead, but you’re not, so take a moment to enjoy that fact.