Years ago, a friend told me about her father.  When he died, she found out that he hadn’t told anyone about his after-death wishes, and so it became a mess to decide what to do.

I remember saying to myself “That won’t be me.”

And so it isn’t.

Lydia and Luc were my companions in Liège yesterday.  Awhile ago Lydia agreed to be the Executor of my Will, and also my Power of Attorney.  She’ll make decisions about my property and medical care if I’m no longer able to.  Thank you, Lydia.

It’s been straightforward about my Will but the Power of Attorney is another story.  Belgium and Canada look at those documents very differently.

Making sure that “Ik wil niet worden gereanimeerd” really happens has been an ordeal.  Do not resuscitate.

Lydia has copies of almost all the documents she would need … five more to go, and we’ll deal with them this afternoon.  Yay!

But there’s something else – the Samsung S23 phone that sits in my hands right now.  She’d need passwords … easily done.  And then there’s my gigantic list of contacts.  I’m spent a few emotionally draining hours writing down stuff for her.  And here’s the result:

When I die, Lydia needs to contact 38 companies, organizations and government agencies.  That’s essential.  I hope she’ll also reach 42 friends.  I want them to know that the body is no more.

It was much easier describing Liège yesterday but today a future reality called death is front and centre in my mind.  And so I’m telling you.  It’s the right thing to do.

Later today, once we’ve examined those last POA documents, I will be complete (“flat”) with this topic.  And I will smile.

I’ll let you know when that moment occurs.

***

Now!