Most of my writing (books and articles) has to do with travel and adventure; mainly events that are fun and exciting; things that cause memories with a chuckle.

The reason I enjoy chronicling unusual and humorous things that happen to me in life is not so much from a desire to share my experiences with others, although I don't mind doing so. My real motivation is about giving me a way to relive some of my life's journey should I be inflicted with the fate that destroyed the memory and life of my mother. That is, I write for myself in the future; and secondarily for curious family members who follow me. The latter consideration is a "lesson learned" from the total loss of the preceding generation on both sides of my family. Now, after the fact, I have many, many questions; questions that will be forever unanswered.

The subject of this article is a future journey that I will take (indeed, so shall we all), but a journey to which I do not look forward with eager and delightful anticipation. You see, I'm not at all sure about where this journey will go and what's waiting on the other end. The destination is a mystery, and a frightening one at that--at least for me. Some people claim they know exactly where this train ride goes, and exactly what's in store for them; what their final destination is all about.

Sadly, I do not. Not that I haven't been told by numerous well-meaning people, but their versions are all slightly different, and each vilifies those with a different version than expressed within their particular dogma. Do you see why I may be confused?

What if you wake up in Paradise and it's boring? You know, people in white robes and big hair strolling about with clasped hands benevolently blessing each other for eons? Will there be beer and golf and tennis and surfing? How about music? Will there be options or just monotone chanting? Will there be humor? Will funny things happen? Will there be wardrobe options? Man, I hope so... I mean, how do you play tennis and golf in a long, white robe? I don't want to even consider the alternate destination as written about by Dante. Definitely not boring, but way too scary--and painful. Man, if there's one thing I don't like it's pain.

OR...

Will there be nothingness; a timeless void? I'm not thinking about a place will one floats about for eternity--although that would be a bummer; a literal Hell--but going into a permanent sleep and never waking. If that is the case, I guess it won't be so bad. It'd be like before you were born. There's nothing I can do about it anyway. Come to think of it, I understand how brain-dead sleep for eternity would be, and so do many of you. Check this out--have you ever had surgery; the kind where they put you under? I've been under the knife twice: appendectomy and rotator cuff. Dude puts a cocktail into your IV and tells you to count...you do...then wake up two hours later as though no time has passed. For two hours you've been "dead" just like before you were born. For me being put under was much different than actually sleeping. See, when I sleep I get a lot of rapid-eye-movement (REM) in my slumber. That happens to be the sleep stage where one dreams; and I dream every night. Though I have little recall, the visions are all fun and happy, though usually nonsensical. Sometimes there is even a musical score. Anyway, the two experiences--unconscious under anesthesia and sleeping--aren't even remotely similar with the former resembling timeless, never-waking death.

Dreaming... Here's something to think about: In the Islamic dogma, upon death one is put into a kind of sleeping "cold storage" until Judgment Day, but receives pleasant dreams on a regular basis. Ever hear the term Seventh Heaven? That's also from Islam. Those receiving a "passing" grade after Allah's judgment live on just one of the levels, according to his or her reward, but can visit back and forth among levels.

Now, all this mystery train stuff gives me a headache, because my feeble brain cannot get around it and give me comfort and closure using human logic. It's unknown and unknowable, though I know some of you will disagree, but that's from your own "faith statement", and if you've got that--good on ya, mate. In other words, I try never to think about it! The problem is that my best friend approached me a year ago about writing his eulogy. I agreed, but only if he would write mine. Of course we each get editing rights for the other's work. Cool, huh? The last one standing will be there in person, while the other will have a reader. We have been so connected, and shared so much through the years, it seems only fitting that we take that relationship to the grave---that is, simultaneously get in the last word on behalf of each other.

That said, I'm not looking forward to either event.

Gene Myers Author of: "After Hours: Adventures of an International Businessman" www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/AfterHours.html Also available at: www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com and www.borders.com