Post B9NkUxBOwY06x2OK0m by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
 (DIR) More posts by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
 (DIR) Post #B9NkSVjs0bFzFvLhdQ by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
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       This was written by Ann Druyan, the widow of Carl Sagan, and was posted on the bird site. I'm copy/pasting here for others to read. Start Quote: When my husband died, because he was so famous and known for not being a believer, many people would come up to me ― it still sometimes happens ― and ask me if Carl changed at the end and converted to a belief in an afterlife. 1/__
       
 (DIR) Post #B9NkUxBOwY06x2OK0m by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
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       They also frequently ask me if I think I will see him again. Carl faced his death with unflagging courage and never sought refuge in illusions. The tragedy was that we knew we would never see each other again. I don't ever expect to be reunited with Carl. 2/__
       
 (DIR) Post #B9NkX7C4h69yZvjkfI by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
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       But, the great thing is that when we were together, for nearly twenty years, we lived with a vivid appreciation of how brief and precious life is. We never trivialized the meaning of death by pretending it was anything other than a final parting. 3/__
       
 (DIR) Post #B9NkafkOgIKoc5UGhs by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
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       Every single moment that we were alive and we were together was miraculous-not miraculous in the sense of inexplicable or supernatural. We knew we were beneficiaries of chance. That pure chance could be so generous and so kind. That we could find each other, as Carl wrote so beautifully in Cosmos, you know, in the vastness of space and the immensity of time. That we could be together for twenty years. That is something which sustains me and it’s much more meaningful.4/__
       
 (DIR) Post #B9NkdeGgdZUctW0ea8 by The_Whore_of_Blahbylon@mastodon.social
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       The way he treated me and the way I treated him, the way we took care of each other and our family, while he lived. That is so much more important than the idea I will see him someday. I don't think I'll ever see Carl again. But I saw him. We saw each other. We found each other in the cosmos, and that was wonderful.― Ann DruyanEnd Quote.5/5
       
 (DIR) Post #B9Nm7BWWAp8sO03ve4 by 3janeTA@beige.party
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       @The_Whore_of_Blahbylon I love this, and also anyone asking if he changed his mind in the face of death is a ghoul.
       
 (DIR) Post #B9Nt0ipqcdbFLvy9Mu by mastodonmigration@mastodon.online
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       @The_Whore_of_Blahbylon Beautiful. As he famously said, "we are made of star stuff," and, like the stars, we are all such amazing beneficiaries of chance.
       
 (DIR) Post #B9OjvCXWZ1inJReQPw by VE3RWJ@mastodon.radio
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       @The_Whore_of_Blahbylon Thanks. That is beautiful and a great example of how to approach life. Honest, unflinching, clear-eyed, and maintaining a sense of awe and wonderat it all.