Watching people die of old age in old-time, and modern Phoenix


As a typical city boy of the 21st Century, I don't see much death, except abstractly. I may read an article about someone dying, or someone may tell me about someone's death, but that's all. As a time-traveler, I realize that most of the people in the old photos that I have are all dead (especially in this one, from 1905), but it isn't something that I dwell on, or talk about. But I want to talk about it today.

I've never watched anyone die of old age, but I know that a lot of people have, and still do. Only a few generations ago in Phoenix most people died of old age at home, not in a hospital, or at a nursing home. And their family got to see the process.

The closest I'll ever come to watching someone die of old age is seeing my dog grow old. Very, very old. She's healthy, and strong, but there's a limit to her little doggy life, and I'm watching it very slowly ebb away. Her hearing and vision are fading, and even her super doggy nose isn't what it used to be when she was younger. It's natural, but it's still hard to watch.

And I can understand why people don't want to just sit back and accept death, even from old age. Hospitals and doctor's offices here in Phoenix are filled with people who are always getting some type of "procedure" to extend their lives. But people are human beings, they're not like old cars that aren't worth fixing anymore. Still, time takes its toll, and as a very wise friend of mine once said, "We aren't supposed to last forever, you need to give someone else a chance".

Speaking for myself, I have a DNR, and have filled out the correct forms, signed and notarized, so that I can simply die of old age, and never go back to a hospital (unless I break a leg or something!). I'm astonishingly healthy, even at my advanced age, and my chances for living an extremely long life are very good.

But I won't live forever, and even if I just die of old age, people will have to see that process. That's just the way it is, and the way it always has been.

Thank you for the encouragement! If you want to see daily pics of my adventures on my recumbent trike in suburban Phoenix (just for fun, of course!) you can follow me on buymeacoffee.com/bradhall, and you can buy me a coffee if you'd like to!

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