Passing along a few passing thoughts on departing from this life

Although death is an inevitability that every living creature shares, it is also, for the most part, a subject that remains taboo in our society. However, this past week, several unrelated events all brought the subject front and center and made me realize it is, perhaps, something we should take time to seriously ponder.

First, I visited a longtime friend who recently, and rather suddenly, lost her husband to cancer and now, like so many older women, must somehow find new meaning in a life without a loving partner.

Then, on July 31, Val and I celebrated 58 years of marriage, and although Val, ever the engineer, figured that meant we had had 21,170 breakfasts together, I am well aware that we may not have many more anniversaries to share.

I also made what will probably be my final sojourn for the summer into New York to view the highly publicized blockbuster exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum, “Savage Beauty,” a collection of the extraordinary designs of Alexander McQueen, who at age 40, recently committed suicide. That same afternoon, after meeting friends for lunch, we all attended a matinee of a new musical, “Death Takes a Holiday.”

As to the McQueen exhibit, which closes at midnight today, the dramatic method of showcasing about 100 of his designs was exceedingly well done. The clothes themselves were more esoteric works of art than anything wearable.

Feathered finery that made the mannequins look like birds of paradise, sequined tights, “armadillo” boots with 12-inch heels, outfits often topped with voluminous headdresses or metal face masks.

Although many viewers felt McQueen’s creativity made you see fashion in a new way, I thought many of the designs, even when weirdly stunning, were macabre and completely unwearable by anyone, anywhere.

McQueen used the runway as a theatrical stage, casting his models as part of a huge chess game, floating underwater or consumed by fire. He called his shows “my own living nightmare.” I left feeling that he would have been an exceptional theatrical designer or artist in a different medium. For me, the beauty of clothing design lies in the fabric, the cut and the wearability of the fashions.

The new musical show, “Death Takes A Holiday” is almost like an operetta, so much of the play is sung and sung beautifully, by an excellent cast. The story, of course, involves death deciding to take a brief holiday to find out why people fear him and also to learn what living is like.

He falls in love and realizes the wonder and beauty of life. His dilemma is that in order to keep his love, she will have to “depart” with him. “Death Takes a Holiday” is a beautiful and uplifting show and makes us realize that although death awaits all of us, meanwhile, as one of the show’s songs says, “Life is a Joy.”

- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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