My 94-year-old parents had things to tell me this week.

[SergeStorms]

67. I've had the same talk with my Mother...

who is now in Hospice and dying a little more with each passing hour. She has perhaps a week or so left, at most. When a parent says they're not scared of dying, they're lying. My mother said the same things to me for years, and right now she's scared out of her mind (what little she has left). She wants me with her when she dies. I told her I'll do anything in my power, but I can't guarantee I'll be there the second of her death. My Dad died 23 years ago of a massive heart attack. Lights on, lights off. The intricacies of that are a different story, and I won't get into that here.

It's all well and good to have these conversations with your elderly parents, but until they're faced with the reality of death, the stark finality of it, and direct proximity to it, nothing they say can be taken as gospel. We can all say things about our deaths now, but when death is taping you on the shoulder it's an entirely different story. My Mother's directives as to her final preparations, disposal of her body etc. have all changed since the talks we had over the past few years. Death was stalking her (it stalks us all), but now has found her. It's final preparations are now in control, and not my Mother's.

I wish you and your parents peace, love, and courage in what you'll soon face, MineralMan. I certainly mean no ill will, nor do I wish to detract from your parents' final wishes and preparations, and the fashion in which they related them to you. It's great that you talked these things out with them. My only suggestion is that you don't take their talk of dying, and the directives they related to you, too literally at this time. Things could change, and you should be prepared for that. At the very moment of their deaths they will be scared. It's only natural. Fear of the unknown, and all that.

Peace and love to you brother!