Memento Mori: Mary Alice Bartlett

Neon Memes • Circumstances sometimes tempt me to flirt with mysticism, even though I've considered myself "religious" in no sense of that word since 1969. Such temptation first occurred two decades ago, when too many people in my life―family, friends and acquaintances―passed away seemingly all at once. Perhaps everyone suffers such periods of statistically unlikely thanatotic disruption from time to time. If so, small comfort. In any event, another such extended disruption has been plaguing me during the past year. First my effervescent Aunt Helen died. Then Dan Straubel, one of my old profs at Southeast Missouri State U―and a bona fide White Hat. Then Levin Letner, a lunatic, large-hearted friend from Cape Girardeau, Mo. Most recently, cancer claimed my Aunt Mary, whose weight in pounds at the time of her death roughly matched her age in years, 67. My last earthly sight of her conspired with reflections on Aunt Helen and Dr. Dan and Levin to make me think. If, for just an instant under the current circumstances, I succumbed to religiosity, to the recognition of some omnipotent entity or entities, I'd still likely growl this at Him/Her/Them/It: "Cut it out―now. I'm starting to take this personal." ―Bryan A. Hollerbach, Managing Editor