I recently came across the following quote. “I practice the yoga philosophy that I do not own anything on this earth. I just use it for a time, and when I go, I leave that Cadillac with the keys in the ignition for someone else.”
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot went on to say how that philosophy didn’t extend to the music he feels is being stolen from him via Napster, but that’s another story. It’s a great segue into an issue that’s been troubling me for some time. I too ascribe to the above yoga philosophy, if not its contortions, to the point of being an organ donor upon my death. But a friend with friends in the know recently told me that in a triage situation, EMT’s might make less heroic efforts or more readily resign you to the “hopeless” pile if they see you’re a donor. Others have said there are resuscitating compounds that may be administered to the technically dead in a last ditch attempt to revive the victim, but because those same chemicals may make some organs unfit for transfer should the victim die, they are less likely to be administered to donors.
Please Cecil, tell me if I should continue to live my oh-so humble way, or if, once again, no good deed goes unpunished. I’m happy to leave my keys in the ignition, but I don’t wanna be yanked outta the driver’s seat before I’m outta gas!
Clutching my liver,
Dwamish