Conversations about Death

Some of the hardest conversations we have are about money and sex. But talking about death tops both of those. We talk about giving birth easily, but we don’t recall the struggle to be born. When we talk with someone who is approaching death, we tend to feel uncomfortable, making the person who is dying uncomfortable.

Although death doesn’t seem like much of a laughing matter, it is possible to bring humor into the conversation without feeling guilty about it. It’s not the conversations about living wills and typical end of life issues, although some of those are difficult, but questions regarding when and how.

As I help my mother struggle with health issues that will in the near future claim her life, I try to reassure her that we will do our best to keep her comfortable and out of pain. Once that is stated she seems to be able to crack jokes about dying. Her ability to talk freely about it helps my discomfort.

In a recent stay at the hospital, she awoke and said to the early morning nurse, “Where am I? I thought I was supposed to be dead by now.”  The nurse thought that was a hoot.

When someone young is dying, the conversations may be very different. A good friend who passed away at age 50 talked openly about his death and was able to joke with his friends about it. It was the best thing we could do for him. But, I later felt unnecessarily guilty about laughing about death.  Conversations with people who are inexperienced with a loved-one dying, might include assurances that it is okay to laugh at death.

There is a feeling of helplessness that also accompanies the expected death of a friend or family member.

Maine Warmers' Foot Warmer Pad

We want to help, but there isn't much we can do except be there. Our friend’s wife told me that the microwave back warmer that we gave him was the only thing that could warm his feet as the cancer progressed. That was before I started Maine Warmers and one of the reasons I thought it was important to make these products available.

Encouraging Children to Enjoy Swim Lessons

We want to encourage our grandchildren to enjoy swimming and have taken them for lessons for several years at a local school.  In Maine, in the winter, the ladies’ locker room feels cold, especially after basking in the warmth of the heated pool area. Our young granddaughter’s teeth would be chattering as I tried to change her out of wet swimsuit and into some warm, dry duds.

I wondered if a Maine Warmer might help make that transition a little more comfortable for her and make the locker room experience less frantic.  I wanted to make the experience as comfortable and fun as I could.

So, before we left home I would microwave a Back Warmer, wrap it in a Turkish towel, and place it in a canvas bag. We would leave an hour before the lesson, pick up our grandchildren, and drive to the pool. At the locker room I placed the bag in the locker while we waited the hour for the lesson. After two hours, the towel and heating pad would be nice and warm and our granddaughter was elated to be wrapped in a heated, dry towel while I pulled her clothes out of the locker.

Warm a Turkish towel with a Maine Warmers' Back Warmer and enjoy soothing warmth after a winter swim in a pool.

The Turkish towel is quite large but folds up into a small area, taking up less room than the terry towel that she takes into the pool area and returns with soaking wet.

Once dried, dressed, and in the car, we gave them snacks – usually a banana, but occasionally a granola bar. We would return them to their home just at suppertime. On the last day of the session, we would take them out or buy pizza to celebrate them and with their parents.

Maine Warmers’ microwave bed and body warmers bring soothing warmth and comfort in the middle of winter to young and old. A variety of Neck Warmers and Back Warmers are available in traditional shapes or in unique animal designs and patterns.

Maine Warmers' Cozy Sheep Bed and Body Warmer