Choosing To Die.

 

 

It saddens me greatly to think that there will soon come a day when there will be no new Discworld stories.

Terry Pratchett's humour has been a part of my life for a long, long time - his work helped me through the stresses of school, the loss of a loved one and the loneliness of living in another country.  

I have reread many of his books on a whim just because I've needed a laugh.

More recently, I have come to appreciate his skill at writing and how well he wraps thought provoking messages inside the jokes and footnotes*.

There are something like 38 books in the series and I am quite sure I have read all of them at least once.

The residents of Ankh-Morpork and the greater Discworld itself feel like family.

Speaking of family, I can still recall the times my grandmother asked my mother who she was when we came to visit during those last few months she spent in some lonely hospice suffering from Alzheimer's. 

I will not easily forget the grief my mother felt, nor the lack of understanding on my part as to what was happening at the time.

Terry Pratchett also suffers from Alzheimer's and is considering undertaking an assisted death, something he is unable to do in his native England (nor here in Australia).

I caught this documentary tonight on TV. It is quite a moving and balanced piece - as it should be - yet not one that comes away with any definitive conclusion (even for Terry).

I should warn you that you will see someone die during the later stages of the show - but very obviously, that is much the point. 

For what it's worth, I'm on Terry's side. 

 

*Consider this one a tribute.