Are You Still Among the Living?

Ever start feeling separated from life and the world around you? Some would call it a blessing, others a curse. See how it all depends upon one’s perspective and perception; it’s all in our head and you only watch the parade outside, take in what you see, process it through a bunch of acquired filters and then, miracles of miracles, form an opinion about what kind of thing or experience it is and whether or not it’s good or bad. Stretch those brain cells and you’ll discover there is no such thing as a common, shared reality.

Now, regarding being among the living, here are some ways to verify (with certainty) that you are dead, dead, dead.

1) Notice that as you walk down the street no one says, “Hi,” or “Hello,” or, “Get fucked,” no words, no smile, nothing.

2) Store clerks stop saying, “have a nice day,” and just don’t say anything.

3) People you consider good friends don’t pick up their phone and call you any more.

4) You hear the words, “Paper or plastic?” That’s just your soul listening in on a funeral home conversation regarding whether your remains belong in a sturdy cardboard casket or a body bag.

5) You sit next to someone on public transit (like the San Francisco Bay Area BART system) and the person next to you doesn’t even look in your direction. It sort of reminds one of the movie Ghost.

6) No one ever returns a call you leave in their voice mail (that does it for just about all of us).

7) Final item–you find yourself writing and reading shit like this.

You don’t need to score all 6 to be dead as two or three will suffice. So, buy yourself a wreath, go home and wait for the reaper. He will be along shortly.