Final Chapters
Tyrone Beason of the Seattle Times and Don Colburn of The Oregonian have written memorable accounts of people facing death on their own terms.
In "Last Hurrahs," Beason introduces us to Gladys Blaine, an 85-year-old with a theatrical bent who, dressed as an angel, threw herself a "going away" party:
Wearing an airy sheath of a white dress, white Birkenstocks, a fuzzy halo and those big, white, fluffy wings, Blaine grinned like the Cheshire cat, cheek to cheek, and cackled like Phyllis Diller while greeting the 40 or so friends and relatives who turned out for her living funeral, her dying party.
"I'm dying!" Blaine said repeatedly in a tone that was both plaintive and joyously declarative.
There were smiles and awkward silences, a look of disbelief on some faces, sadness on others and a glance from those who knew her plucky personality that said: "This party is so Gladys."
In "She Chose It All on the Day She Died," Colburn recounts the last hours of Lovelle Svart, 62, who chose doctor-assisted suicide. Svart also gathered family and friends, and Colburn provides some intimate details:
About 4:30, Lovelle announced she wanted "a hugging line" -- one last hug for everybody. "You'll be first and last," she said, turning to her mom.
Lovelle stood in the center of the living room and embraced them one by one -- long hugs with tears and laughter.
Then one last cigarette break on her favorite sitting stone next to the parking lot. Afterward, Lovelle took the elevator up to the third-floor apartment and hung up her coat and hat.
"OK," she said to no one in particular. "I'm going to get into bed now."
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw10282007/2003967206_pacificpdeath28.html
http://next.oregonianextra.com/lovelle/