I'm thinking about my Aunt Ella
who died yesterday at the age of 92.

I remember her as a ball of energy, an accomplished seamstress,
just a beautiful lady....who smoked like a fiend and swore like a sailor
when the time was right.

She never had children, and when she began losing her
faculties, she turned to someone who may not have always
acted in her best interests.

When I got the call yesterday, I found myself speechless
as I was told there would by no embalming, no services.
Wasnt even an obituary in the paper today.

And this led me to think of how we have developed such wonderful technology and knowledge to help people live to ripe old ages,
regardless of their quality of life. And, how when their care becomes to complicated or too bothersome, we have become conditioned to dump
them in assisted living/or nursing homes in what amounts to very expensive old people orphanages.

And, when the end finally comes, we cant even take the time or
expend the money to celebrate their life and passing.

And this is pissing me off.