Thomas Lynch-The Undertaking

"THEY DIE AROUND THE CLOCK HERE, WITHOUT APPARENT PREFERENCE FOR A DAY OF THE WEEK, MONTH OF THE YEAR; THERE IS NO CLEAR FAVORITE IN THE WAY OF SEASON. NOR DOES THE ALIGNMENT OF THE STARS, FULLNESS OF MOON, OR LITURGICAL CALENDAR HAVE VERY MUCH TO DO WITH IT. THE WHEREABOUTS ARE NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. THEY GO OFF UPRIGHT OR HORIZONTALLY IN CHEVROLETS AND NURSING HOMES, IN BATHTUBS, ON THE INTERSTATES, IN ERs, ORs, BMWs. AND WHILE IT MAY BE THAT WE ASSIGN MORE EQUIPMENT OR MORE IMPORTANCE TO DEATHS THAT CREATE THEMSELVES IN PLACES MARKED BY INITIALS---ICU BEING SOMEHOW BETTER THAN GREENBRIAR CONVALESCENT HOME---IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THE DEAD DON'T CARE. IN THIS WAY, THE DEAD I BURY AND BURN ARE LIKE THE DEAD BEFORE THEM, FOR WHOM TIME AND SPACE HAVE BECOME MORTALLY UNIMPORTANT. THIS LOSS OF INTEREST IS, IN FACT, ONE OF THE FIRST SURE SIGNS THAT SOMETHING SERIOUS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THE NEXT THING IS THEY QUIT BREATHING. AT THIS POINT, TO BE SURE, A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST OR SHOCK AND TRAUMA WILL GET MORE INK THAN A CVA OR ASHD, BUT NO CAUSE OF DEATH IS ANY LESS PERMANENT THAN THE OTHER. ANY ONE WILL DO. THE DEAD DON'T CARE."