| Out Of Here And Having The Time Of His Life
(Art Buchwald-Tribune Media Services)
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Art Buchwald, 80, Pulitzer prize-winning columnist and humorist, decided a few months ago to forego kidney dialysis and spend the rest of his days being visited by family and friends in a Washington D. C. hospice. He calls it his "Last Hoorah!"
Buchwald decide that spending 3 days a week, 9 hours a day receiving dialysis treatment was boring and he did not want to spend the rest of his life doing this.
He was also dealing with diabetes and an amputated leg, so he made the decision to forego treatment. His children were not pleased, but eventually came around. He spends his days joking and laughing with dignities, friends, his children and grandchildren, reading books, writing some, sleeping, and eating a lot of McDonalds.(He say after he dies, he would like his photo placed among the golden arches.)
Art was given only 3 weeks to live after quiting dialysis. He has been at the hospice since February 6th, so
his positive outlook with a sense of humor, peace about his decision, and a seemingly lack of fear surrounding death might have
something to do with the fact that he is still around. Even though Art has had two bouts of depression in his life, he is still able to enjoy his last days which is a great lesson to all of us.
Read two of our favorite articles about Art Buchwald and his life now and listen to a recent interview he did from the hospice with Diane Rehm on NPR. JHL
The Final Days of Art Buchwald: A Visit
(Courtesy Tribune Media Services)
Washington's Hottest Salon Is a Deathbed (by Sharon Waxman -NYT)
Interview with Diane Rehm of NPR (look right for audio player)
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