I acknowledge that I have a far more intimate relationship with death than the general public. I speak, write, and think about mortality often. Friends, family, first dates, bartenders – honestly, anyone who discovers what I do for a living usually responds in one of a few ways.
- Shit. That must be really tough.
- It is. I often speak with families on the absolute worst days of their lives. With that, I also get to have a part in making the worst day of their lives just a little bit less terrible. For some people though, death is a blessing and a freedom from suffering. Sometimes, the grieving process is already well underway when I speak with a family.
- Do you sell organs for like, a profit?
- Context – I work in organ, tissue, and eye donation. I only talk to families once a loved one has already passed. And no, I don’t sell body parts for a profit- that’s illegal and icky.
- Do you have a good therapist…?
- I used to! Now, I have decided to stop paying for therapy and go to the local aquarium once a week. Fish are good therapists because they are also captive but they won’t ask me for a bill after 90 minutes of trauma dumping.
pro-whimsy agenda 