Embracing Death
Snow, white and faded, was not as
melancholic as the cold. At -6 degrees Fahrenheit, even Wharf street was put to
silence, just past sunset, by twenty two inches of snow the blizzard had dispersed
all over Portland. The promising sun I witnessed earlier this day; shining
radiantly over the Siberian Elms of Eastern Promenade, was taken over pugnaciously
by Nimbostratus clouds. This snow storm had forced me to seek refuge at
Sweetgrass winery. Three divine shots of "Mark of the Maple" later, I
felt warm enough to face the wind chill. Tantalizing aroma of parmesan,
rosemary and basil led me to its origin at Central Provisions. After digging
into an entree of "Seared Casco-Bay Scallops", I reluctantly dragged
myself to the exit.
Repulsed by the sombre chill of
Wharf Street I made my exit through the other door. Fore street; basking
earlier under blue and red twinkle lights, was tumult now: the traffic lights
swung about and ghastly wind added to the gloom. As I was walking by the
Monument square, my eyes fell on a notice displayed at Portland Public Library:
an invitation for hot tea and cake. The black and white image of a faceless
woman, sitting with her shapely legs crossed in an elegant blouse and skirt;
next to a table set for tea, had me enthralled. I stepped inside.
She was tall and slender; draped
in an ankle high skirt and a cashmere turtle neck; complimented by leather
boots - other than the boots that were shiny all her apparel was the same shade
of matte black. Her champagne hair fell on her shoulders and she wore no other
accessory but a silver skull on her ring finger. It was hard to tell by the
lines of her face that she was nearing the end of her sixth decade. Gina
welcomed me with a smiling face to her "death cafe".
"Warmth of tea is associated
with life and sweetness of cake with celebration!" I disdained.
"Pluralism is acceptance of
all ideologies: you may relate with Wordsworth more, irrespective you esteem
Plath", she went on politely, " You may perceive death as cessation
of life or a continuation in a different form or a dimensional shift but why
would you associate it with misery? It is an undeniable fact then why the
taboo?"
It took me an hour to realize
that the snow I was associating the gloom with would melt at these mountains
and flow through the rivers to cultivate life both inside of it and outside
through the forests it shall feed. Death Cafe model is the brainchild of
Bernard Crettaz; further developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid. It
harbours the ideology: "when you embrace death, you celebrate life!"
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