Lola, the ABQ Death Cafe mascot
Happy Mardi Gras! The excitement is building as we count down the days to the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival March 7 through 9. This “Mardi Gras in the Mountains” in Nederland, Colorado is always a fun and wacky celebration of all things dead and frozen.
For the fourth year in a row, I’ll be there to host The Newly-Dead Game® and show the documentary “Grandpa’s in the TUFF SHED.” Everyone can register to win fun prizes, including Frozen Dead Guy Day goodies and the 4-DVD set of 12 TV interviews in A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die. This year, Albuquerque Death Cafe mascot Lola will be going along for the ride and photo opportunities.
Plus, this Thursday evening, the Carroll-Lewellen Funeral Home in Longmont is hosting “Laughing in the Face of Death,” my funny film clip-illustrated talk about funeral planning issues. The Denver Post just ran a lovely story titled “Doyenne of Death encourages laughter in the face of funeral planning.” After my talk, we’ll watch the 90-minute animated film Hotel Transylvania.
Tomorrow’s A Good Goodbye Radio show is on writing a stellar obituary and delivering a memorable eulogy. My guest is Rosalyn Kahn, a professional speaking coach. (Read More)
Top Tips From Last Week’s Show
Carole Brody Fleet
On last week’s A Good Goodbye Radio show, my guest was Carole Brody Fleet, author of Widows Wear Stilettos and Happily Even After: A Guide to Getting Through (and beyond) the Grief of Widowhood. Here are a few tips that you may find helpful.
- Whether a death is unexpected or the result of a lingering illness, the loss is still a shock to the system. While you can’t say you didn’t know it was coming with a long-term illness, any death produces bereavement.
- We live in a hurry-up society, and grief recovery takes time. While we don’t want to be sad, in pain, directionless, healing unfolds in its own good time.
- To comfort another, don’t say, “I know how you feel,” because you really don’t. Better to say, “I can’t imagine the pain you’re in. When you are ready to talk, I’m here for you.”
- Ask yourself, “Would I want to hear this right now?” The Golden Rule is a valuable guideline about what to say to a mourner.
- If you so choose, you can love again (and we discussed a number of ways to get back in the game).
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Upcoming Events, Interviews and a Humorous Quote
Click on the date for more details about each event.
March 12: A Good Goodbye Radio with Sandra Champlain, author of We Don’t Die: A Skeptic’s Discovery of Life After Death.
March 15: Albuquerque Death Cafe hosted by Susan Thomas and Joe Fulton at Sheila’s Sweets.
March 20: Jewish Funeral Traditions talk to Congregation Albert Sisterhood, with funny film clips.
March 21: The Viking Funeral on Film Osher UNM Continuing Education talk.
“I’m not afraid of dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” — Woody Allen