On being merely mortal

The thing about being mortal, (as most everyone I know is) is that most of us don't spend a whole lot of time considering the fact of our mortality . Illness or circumstances (such as a brush with, or the threat of death) may cause you to consider it, but for the most part it is just too hard on our heads and hearts to think on one day simply not being here any more.

I am not dying , fear not. Reading thoughts on the purpose of  the gravestone  advanced by Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden got me thinking. He was musing on how gravesites serve their purpose as long as those who truly remember the departed still live. It struck a nerve, in that I can still remember GG (my father's grandmother) , but am likely the only of my father's children who really does.  I also clearly remember all of my grandparents. My children never knew my father's parents, and don't really remember my mother's all that well.

I don't know if my children will have children. If you asked them now, they might say no. It struck me how easily I might be forgotten after only one generation's time. How little an impression or expression of any wisdom I might leave behind me. I like to believe I have an immortal soul, but the immortal don't truck much with those they leave behind, unless they annoy John Edward into passing on their messages.

It is surely my ego whining here, but I like the idea of the gen after my children having some idea of what a hoot I was. I wouldn't want my children to have children if they don't want them, but I kinda sorta wish they wanted them. I can (selfishly) hope that my niece and nephew have kids, as they like me and would like having me around their kids...so maybe I can be remembered by Gen Next as Great Aunt Elise..(GAE? TiaLise? ) who was funny and loving and good to have around.

No one wants to just vanish from memory.  I am not sure I have a lot of control over that, but it nonetheless came to mind.

I guess I want to mean something. I think I know that I do in the short run, but am not so sure in the long run. Hell,  I wonder how long it would take for me to be a distant memory if I (willingly or not) left my current job, let alone well down the road when I am merely an ( I hope) amusing old lady.

As I said, we mortals do not spend a whole lot of time considering  that fact.  With good reason. Better to go blithely on our way as if we will never die, and to go on trying to make ourselves memorable as if we will never be forgotten.