From Zero to Eternity

“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” - Mark Twain

I have always struggled with the question of existence and none more than what happens after we die. Today is my dog's 14th birthday. It is also the day that I received a phone call from the veterinarian that he has cancer. The last 12 months have been rough, and compared to most, I am sure my troubles are miniscule. After all, they are relative to each of us. During these last 12 months I have had a 30 something year old, newly-wed and otherwise healthy nephew diagnosed with cancer, an early 50's sister-in-law and otherwise healthy doctor need a heart transplant and a two year old great niece striving after her second heart surgery from a heart defect at birth with a third surgery to come in the near future. And to top it off, my beloved grandmother's death at 92 after a long, wonderful life. And now this COVID-19 virus.

It all gets me thinking. We can believe or not. Have faith or not. Think we are just lucky enough to live "On a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam." as Mr. Sagan said. But we do know we are here. Now. At this moment. And what we do and how we respond to all of our troubles, trials and tribulations define us.

“To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” - Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society.

So what will your verse be?

DBG