At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
What if you were mistakenly declared dead? Would you be tempted to walk away from your life and start anew?
Note: In solidarity with A Day Without a Woman, I will go dark tomorrow. I will not post, nor will I make the usual blog rounds. See you on Thursday.
It depends when you ask me. When my world was feeling like it was crashing around me...i might have been tempted but, in the end, I would be hurting too many people and I would be steaming mad! Funny...years ago my mom's Old Age pension stopped and she called to find out. Somehow they placed her as deceased! She had to prove she was not dead which always involves some red tape. It worked out in a few days with an apology.
ReplyDeleteYikes. That sounds like a nightmare.
DeleteNo, I like my life and the people in it. I'd want it back.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to "start over" so to speak. I would be glad I was "alive" as I would hope my family would feel the same way :)
ReplyDeletebetty
No, I love being here with my family. Declared dead would put them under terrible stress.
ReplyDeleteIt's good you have a family that you wouldn't want to leave.
DeleteI'd miss my family, and I wouldn't want to put my nephews through that. So I would set the record straight.
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the consensus.
DeleteNot even a little tempted.
ReplyDeleteNot even a teensy bit?
DeleteI vote no, I'm happy with my life :)
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be everyone's answer.
DeleteI burst out laughing imagining all of the things that I could do if I was declared dead.
ReplyDeleteBTW it was maniacal laughter.
This is actually something I've thought of. How would one go about starting over, assuming one didn't want to resume the old life. You'd need new documents, and you'd have to move far far away from wherever you were. Canada maybe...
ReplyDeleteI would fight to get my paper life back. This kind of thing, by the way, happens more than many suspect, and (especially when it is Social Security that declares you dead) it is a horrible experience. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYeah, on paper that would be a nightmare.
DeleteThis question depends on a single factor: my wife.
ReplyDeleteIf my wife is alive, I would return to her in a heartbeat. But, if she were not...well, I'd have no problem just allowing my 'death' to continue. It allows me a certain freedom of movement that would be unafforded otherwise.
Interesting...
DeleteHi Liz - no I couldn't do it .. way too difficult ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt's sounds very tempting to start with a clean sheet and make yourself into a completely new person, leaving behind all the baggage of your previous life. In the real world, though, I don't think I could do it as that "baggage" includes my huge family who I can't imagine living without!
ReplyDeletehttps://thatspurrfect.blogspot.co.uk/
Interesting question. I like to think I'd be so bold, not that my life is bad. I've just lived too long like a leaf in the wind. But I'd probably stay put. After all, the wind has died down and allowed me lots of writing time. ~grin~ Be well!
ReplyDeleteIt would depend whether or not you like your current life. Or if there's something bad that might be coming your way.
DeleteOne of my biggest fears is that I will be buried alive or burned alive! It's much better to imagine that people think I'm dead but don't actually know where I am. Perfect time for a surprise party, right? :-P
ReplyDeleteI don't think that I would disappear from my life. I'm too attached to my husband. Plus, I'd have to have a plan for money. Getting a new job and finding a way to start over (without being able to access or use anyone from my past) just sounds like a pain.
I'm afraid of those, too. Big irrational fears.
DeleteOh what a strange question but I would have to reply, "no, I would keep my life and try to work it all out"....my question would be, how do you go about working that out? I am happy with my life, yes, like others I have some issues, usually with family but they are not things to walk away from. I worked hard to get where I am in life, to like me as I am, to be happy with what I have done and what I have not done.
ReplyDeleteI guess the real question is, what would have to happen in your life to make you willing to walk away from it?
DeleteYour question on my blog is am I happy with the changes in my body since surgery....YES, and I will be more happy when it is all said and done. Thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteI think I would be tempted, to be honest. To start a-fresh unencumbered by bits from one's 'old life'. There's something to that.
ReplyDeleteThere is that.
DeleteWe're making mistakes thought out our life. And if we had a chance to start over. I still believe we will continue to make mistakes and what would the purpose of starting over?
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
I guess it depends on the mistakes.
DeleteA clean slate sounds interesting, and there are no rules to say you couldn't pick up a few oldies to dirty it up a little along the way.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteNo because I love my life. Plus I have 5 kids I could never leave. I've created too much love to ever leave it. Great hypothetical question though.
ReplyDeleteAh, the kids... Never thought about getting away from them, eh?
DeleteMost of life yeah I could walk away and enjoy starting over. But BabyG...life would be so sad without her.
ReplyDeleteYes!
ReplyDeleteWow. You're the only one. Well, at least the only one who's admitting to it ;)
Delete