[Jagger]

Interesting thread. My 2 bits:

I can't say I'm particularly scared of death but I have thought of it, especially when I was younger. I remember having these great discussions with my late mother about this very subject. We were not religious at all but she felt very strongly about life after death. "It's like the seasons" she would say. Spring is birth, summer is life, autumn is old age, winter is death, repeat. This has stayed with me and makes sense. When she was dying of lung cancer at a relatively young age (she never smoke, drank, ate the wrong things etc.) I kept remembering that.

After her death we found a note that she had written. It said something along the lines of "I'm not quite ready to go yet. I have a few things to finish then I'll be ready. It won't be long. I'll let you know when I can go." This creeped me out at first but the more I thought about it the more it seemed to signal to me, at least, that there was something after death. Having now lost nearly all of my immediate family I truly believe that there really is an afterlife or a rebirth of life; something of that nature. This may seem a little wacko to you all but I was 'visited' kinda by my mother and grandmother quite soon after their deaths. I had just moved to Canada and was staying at my wife's parents house. We were asleep and in a 'dream' my mum and grandma were pleading with me to wake me, absolutely begging me. This went on for a while. This was strange as I rarely remember having a dream ever. Anyway, I did wake up and, somehow, I had managed to jam my arm behind a metal sewing table we had beside the bed. The table had very sharp sides and it was literally cutting me very badly on the wrist. It was deep. If I hadn't woken up I probably could have died. I have never been 'visited' by them since that day, about 15 years ago now. I don't know if that proves anything (Of course it doesn't) but I personally have found some comfort in it at least.

Since having a family (wife and four children now) I have done the sensible things. Life insurance on the mortgage, line of credit, and myself. I want them to be ok if something did happen. Unlike Fotze I really don't find having kids is that tough at all. Yes, it's demanding and a big responsibilty but it's something that I cherish everyday. It's LIFE and, for me at least, what it is all about. I can trace my family tree back to the 11th century. One of my ancestors was William the Conquerors right hand men! French blood! As an Englishman that is a worrying thought! This doesn't mean much to this debate but I truly believe that we owe our ancestors great respect and a duty to carry on the line, as it were. (I've done it a few times over now and, believe it or not, would do it even moreso.) I do truly believe that there is a circle of life now and I want to do my part to carry it on.

Death is inevitable, sure. But then as comes death so comes life. That's inevitable too. It's the way of things.

Good luck in dealing with the ultimate question. Bottom line is that nobody really knows, it all comes down to what you believe.

Rambling post. Sorry, it's late. Time to quit now....