Living Will

Next week, I will be given the ability to create a living will as my unit will be getting briefings from JAG on wills and living wills.  It has stirred quite a few thoughts in my head.

I have known for years, that I never wish to live in an incapacitated state.  I know I do not wish to be a vegetable.  I do not wish to have my love ones dragged across the earth to visit me in some condition where I may or may not even know that they are there.  The people I care about carry me with them today and I carry them with me.  Whether I breathe this air or blink these eyes, that does not change.  I never want to be that burden on people.

I am surely a hypocrite  I never want to see my loved ones go.  I never want them to give up that fight, to throw in that towel.  But when they do, I'll swallow the pain and let them go.  Because I hope it will give others the strength to do the same for me and I hope that it will help them find peace on this earth before they leave for their next stop, whatever their belief. 

My wife never wants to speak of death, of passing.  We are both fairly young but both in the army reserve, so it's a topic we each face.  I respect her right to face it how she will, but I want the peace of knowing that I can draw up this document next week with the knowledge that it will be executed.

I don't want to give up any chance of recovery, so if it is possible I want a maximum of 1 week on life support or whatever if there is a chance of recovery.  I think it is fair to both me and my loved ones that I fight a week and no more. Every moment of that fight will be torture to me and those who care about me.    If I am incapacitated to the point where I can no longer communicate, I'd rather be dead, even if I can "live" without life support.  If you have to ask me, "Blink twice if you want to die."  If I do nothing, ask me, "Blink twice if I want to live."  If I'm at the point where the only thing I can do is blink... I don't want to be here anymore.

Why "Peace Through Waffles"?

Waffles are interesting.  They are almost universally recognized.  Most people don't have too many bad memories involving them.  Most people have eaten enough candy to be sick and remember it, or have been yelled at for eating too much candy or have some bad memory about candy or Halloween.  Waffles though?  who has bad memories about waffles.

So if you need to make peace with someone, bring them a waffle.  Need to apologize to your wife?  Forget the flowers and bring a waffle for her to eat while you convince her you understand.  Save the magic of flowers for the romantic times. 

If we had just dropped waffles on Iraq or they threw waffles at us, would be at war or at peace?  We could alleviate some tension, express our distaste and save ourselves the cost and heartache of war.

So let's do it.  Let's make peace through waffles.

Why a blog?

I stumbled across a video about why prostitution should be legal and it was great.  Not only was the topic hilarious and the argument very well thought out and intriguing, the girl who made the video was really cute.  Through her library of videos, I stumbled upon another girl who makes other interesting videos about religion and science and the like.  But eventually, ZOMGitsCriss, posted an interesting video on euthanasia with a link to her blog.  I wanted to comment, so here I am.