A Day With The Dead
August 6th 2009 15:38
Hanging out with the dead might not be this fun.
My eyes have seen, my ears have heard and my mind has had several thoughts some of which were off shoots of several experiences and unusual circumstances, which became turning points in my life, but I can't unequivocally place an experience I had yesterday when certain circumstance compelled me to hang out with the dead.
Except for those that work there, most of the living individuals I met would have loved, if possible, not to be there. I saw husbands, wives, children, friends, relatives, colleagues, associates and contemporaries who were there to embalm or collect the embalmed bodies of their loved ones. While the general atmosphere was sober, silent and spiritual, there were however few exceptions.
I saw some relatives who were rather undeterred by their losses or had not faced the fact that their loved one had departed. They were chit chatting and laughing ecstatically, which made me develop interest in them.
On privy knowledge, I was made to know that they were at the morgue to embalm their aged mum who kicked the bucket at a tender age of 94. I subsequently pondered on a certain issue which is: at what age is death acceptable or desirable as the case might be?
I almost accepted the notion that old age makes death acceptable until I saw, a room away, an able- bodied man crying inconsably over the death of his granny at 90.
My attention was also drawn to the morgue staff who went about their daily responsibilities without much remorse. To them, they were just doing their jobs. And they were highly meticulous at it.
From the selection of the right volume of embalming fluid through the arrangement of the bodies in the various compartments to the final preparation of the bodies for burial, they were so good at their job or service as I was made to know by alfa.
Alfa is a middle aged man of average body size who has been an embalmer since time imemorial. He said he has seen a lot while on his job. He developed interest in the job after an experience he had at a friend's burial.
He said the friend's body was not well prepared and signs of decomposition could be seen. He later developed a passion for embalment, a profession that daily shows him, and others like him, the vanity of most human pursuits. He said every material acquisition quests are worthless after death, the only priceless thing being a good name.
Talking of the dead, they are also like university students as they can be classified as both freshers and stalites. While the 'freshers' are the new ones, the 'stalites' are old timers who have stayed on ice for long.
The morgue is a place where there are no disparities or preferential treatments as each body is handled in similar fashion. In essence, except you know the departed, you can't tell if the dead was rich, influential or powerful when alive. All were given same treatment. No siren blarring, no security stampede and money show offs that are signatory of power and influence among the living. The stupidity of the living human race.
I also tried to know what goes on in the minds of the dead. I think I got close by a faint experience that I had sometime ago.
Everything went blank as I couldn't remember anything that happened. If this is true for the dead, then our individual pursuits and collective prioritizations are all wrong. No wonder The Preacher in the Bible was so vehement on our human affairs before crossing the living line.
While talking of death might sound scary and socially out of place, knowing what goes on after death isn't a bad idea either.
As individuals, we need to start setting our goals right. More efforts should be channeled toward good causes that would benefit humanity and glorify God. We also need to start thinking of what name we want to leave behind because that's the only thing that remains our's after demise.
Politicians and leaders should know that although power intoxicates and makes one feel invincible, and immune, death can dissolve all powers and false invincibilities in the split of a second and put their owners face-to-face with the members of the society who died as a result of their activities (and inactivities).
The poor should also know that inspite of their evident limitations, they will also end up like the rich ones hence should not see their social and financial status as excuses for not being useful to the world. And no matter how simple and little their contributions might be, it could have positive impact on someone.
We the youths also need to know that life is not all about exuberances, indulgences and social vices, but about applying one's energies and resources to the betterment, and not embitterment, of all and sundry.
Like alfa, the mortician, said in his remarks, his job makes him appreciate life and the power, the talents, the gifts and the opportunities God has given to each and everyone of us while He (God) patiently looks at what we do with them, because the decision is ours to make.
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