My day begins as I roll over and put my feet on the floor.
The beginning of another day and thankful for this opportunity of having another day.

Trudge to the kitchen, make coffee, dole out the pills, pop the toast in the toaster and settle in with the morning paper.
Same routine, day after day.
Read the Dallas Morning News.
Start with the headlines... usually depressing.
Read the business section. Omit the sports section.
Read the arts section.

I have left the best 'til last... the metro section.
Local news is also depressing: shootings, building more roads, child abuse, burglaries,and once in a while, news of something good.

And that brings me to the obituaries in the metro section of the paper.
Remember how I said we all have a story to tell? Well, this is the last chance and why not make it a good one?

I have been collecting interesting obituaries for well over 5 years now.
I know, I know... it sounds a bit strange.
As a matter of fact, I did not tell anyone about this hobby for quite some time as I too felt it was a bit strange.

It all started when I read one that had no photo but it listed date of birth and date of death, and of course I had to do the math.
He was a young fella and this is what it said:
"There will be no services. If you wished to see me, you would have seen me while I was alive."
End of obituary!

No... I did not clip that one because I had no idea that it would have such an impact on my life.
The words of this obit haunted me. Obviously, he knew he was dying and he was feeling bitter and alone.
And I wondered if maybe he had AIDS and his family and friends had shunned him.
My heart weeped for this young man.
I so badly wanted to know the rest of the story, and I was sure there was a huge story to go with his brief obit, but I never found that out.

That's when I started looking for and collecting interesting obits.
I now have 20 books filled and more to be logged in. You would not believe what I have found!

Some are so touching that they bring tears to your eyes even though you did not know the person.
Others are inspiring as they tell about overcoming great obstacles in life.
Some share tragedy at what should be the best of times in a person's life.
Some are just plain funny and make me wish I had known that quirky person in real life.
But they all teach a lesson in some way or another about life in general and what is really important.
They cut through the mundane and get to the heart of the matter.

I have them divided into sections.
I have the hat ladies and the hat men wearing their favorite chapeau in their photo.

Interesting ways we go: "flew with the angels", "passed into the arms of Jesus", "left for the milky way", etc.

And then there are those with a favorite pet in their arms, or the one that looks like a photograph and then when you read the obituary you realize it is a self portrait painted by the deceased.

I find the ones about inventors to be some of my favorites.
I have the inventor of the hoola hoop, the frisbee, the smiley face (who knew?), the artificial heart, etc., etc., etc.

One of my favorite inventors was Jack Kilby.
He won the Nobel Prize, was from Dallas and has changed our lives... every one of our lives, more than anyone else in our lifetime.
Yet, I venture to say, no one recognizes his name or can tell me what he invented.
And here you have the rest of the story! Be sure to read about Jack and his amazing invention and how it has impacted your life!
http://www.pbase.com/shutterpug/image/109945778