How to Write Your Epitaph

I can not believe Dear Abby has retired from business advice column. I thought I was immortal.

She and I went aboard the daily Charlotte Sun 13 years ago. The columnist was more widespread in the country. I was withdrawn from the Journalists' Union of Ohio with its 24 clients, and write editorials for the largest newspaper in the county to decrease by half a century of writing maturity.

"Abby" Abigail Van Buren is short, a pen name owned by her union. Aliases are created to carry forward a popular book the star should die or - as now - retired. His real name is Pauline Phillips.

If you insist on knowing, my union did not create a nickname for me. My logo was "World At Large". Sounds a bit 'family? Good!

I have a soft spot in my heart for Abby. I once complimented in a letter to a mutual client - every day at the Jeffersonian Cambridge, Ohio:

"While in Columbus, I found your gem of a newspaper. Thank the person who places the Dear Abby column in a clearly visible at the top of the page, and carry out all the latest image.

"Even congratulate Lindsey Williams on his provocative piece epitaphs. You could give some lessons larger newspapers. I appreciate people who work seriously to put out a newspaper really good. The" Jeff "is one, and I am proud to be it. "

The story of Abby Liked

As a young journalism student, being awarded first class was to write his obituary.

It 'was a humiliating experience. At that tender age there was little in my life that seemed interesting. For a time thereafter, I was afraid to die until you have earned a decent death notice.

Share my concern was a classmate and good friend Johnny Nakamura. He was a Nisei, or second-generation American of Japanese parents.

As a voluntary extension of our operating obituary, Johnny and I decided to write our own epitaphs. Our goal was short-lived, and apt statement as possible.

With the egos of young people, I came up with:
He dared much, accomplished much.

Johnny chose an epitaph of only two words in a remarkable rhymed couplets:

I? Why?

In a short time, Johnny and I lay the first votes and went to World War II. I returned home safely from the Navy. Johnny has been drawn in (all Japanese-Americans) and the Nisei battalion was killed during the landing at Salerno, Italy.

Over the years, I have often thought of self-epitaphs that make in our youth. It was too apt, my too ambitious.

Since then, I revised my epitaph so that, also, consists of two words:

I Tried.

Even if I dared to less than expected - and achieved less than I wanted - I did my best and I'm satisfied.

For me, the attempt is the important part. In an attempt, I paid the rent of God for my life.

Each person sees his role in life differently. Breeding a good family is primary. Win fame and fortune is worthy of note. Risking their lives for the freedom of others is the final contribution.

Whatever our mission, it would be easier to perceive if carved on a rock as a memorial staff to take with us for eternity.

***

It is an ancient custom to sum up the meaning of the life of a person with a few well-chosen words that can be engraved on stone.

The first inscription which was carved in Memphis, in Egypt, six thousand years ago. It commemorates the Pharaoh-God Ptah:

He who gives right to one who loves, and gives wrong to one who hates.

That great mind still lives today in many variants and is a major principle of civilized behavior.

The epitaph reached the height of literary style during the Renaissance. Much thought went into writing odes to deceased family members, friends and celebrities.

So important was a good epitaph famous writers and poets derived considerable income for their composition. One of the epitaphs in the movement of this period was written by Robert Burns for his friend William Muir:

If there is another world,

lives in the beatitude.

If there is none,

has done better than this.

Epitaphic literature reached its zenith in the last century, when personally written - or chosen - messages were popular. A particularly stimulating self-epitaph is carved in a stone Rittman, Ohio (where I lived at the time):

Remember me

you pass by.

I am now,

it should be.

Prepare for death

and follow me.

Then came the irreverent, offensive as this epitaph:

Under these stones are found,

back to back, my wife and I

When the last trumpet fills the air,

If she gets up, I'll just lie still.

Under the onslaught of such banalities, the epitaph disappeared from the American scene. Tombstones has become simply a record of names and dates of birth and death. Gone are the contributions of epitaphs for the individuality of death - a last chance to communicate with the dead and the living, the sharing of human experience.

I was told by a manufacturer of plaques, there is a renewed interest in epitaphs.

Plaques incorporating photographic messages engraved metal or plastic laminate are growing in popularity. A company provides a marker that plays a tape of the late voice message when you press a button on the tombstone.

The wonders of plastic and electronic distribution of our age may be ushering in a new emphasis on epitaphs. Yet, I fear that will encourage long-winded dissertations that tend to bury the key in an avalanche of words.

As epitaphs become fashionable once again, I urge that this is (s) personally composed and (2) limited the number of words that can be engraved on granite expensive in big letters.

The thought of writing your own epitaph requires good and useful things you need to do to justify a memorial inspiration.

To better live so that we can die honored, we must write our epitaph first year of life, making it glow and self-laudatory, as we have the courage.

In this way, we would be forced to spend the rest of our lives trying to live up to it.

***

"Dear Abby", continues under the auspices of her daughter Jeanne. It 'grew up helping her mother famous select the letters of comment on the joys and tribulations of people every day - which entitles them to those they love, and wrong to those who hate ....