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One Glorious Sunset

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The more I was interviewed, the more friends showed up. And people in town would greet each other by saying, "Have you been to the hospice yet?"

A visit to the hospice is now a pilgrimage. I think they come here because it's a shrine and I can cure them of their illnesses, like Lourdes.

Q. Do you have plans yet for your memorial service?

A. Yes, I've chosen my speakers. I showed the list to a lady friend, and she said, "You have no women speaking for you." I told her all my girlfriends are going to be pallbearers. When I mentioned it to one lady friend, she became excited and asked, "What should I wear?"

When you are in a hospice, people are very curious about you, about themselves and about how to deal with denial.

I've had more than 2,000 letters, which I would never have received if I'd had a heart attack.

So for just choosing a way to say goodbye, I now have a chance to relive every walk of my life and all the memories.

I don't want you to think I'm recommending a hospice -- unless you can be assured you're going to be on television and in the New York Times. You don't want to leave this world without anybody knowing you've been here.

This is not a plea for more mail, but I've been asked these questions many times, and I believe since the writers expressed an interest, I owe them a reply.

To paraphrase Hamlet, "To be or not to be -- that is a very good question."

2006Tribune Media Services

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