Kerry Egan is a hospice chaplain in Massachusetts and the author of "Fumbling: A Pilgrimage Tale of Love, Grief, and Spiritual Renewal on the Camino de Santiago."

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/28/my-faith-what-people-talk-about-before-they-die/

interesting read

Very nice.

Read 'Final Gifts' - written by two hospice nurses. It will open your eyes to the fact that there's more to this life than death.

Most of the people I've watched die, ask for their mother.
Odd.

Last words on their lips most times.

'Most' times......but I'm talking about a violent death.
People who are unprepared to die, haven't thought about it.
'Shock' statements.

Ms. Egan shows a depth of maturity and an ability to articulate that maturity which does her calling proud. When it comes to the big things, like life, death, and love, we're all students. The wisest among us realize this and conduct themselves accordingly. The less wise, become professors.

Rosebud.

What's with her Professor mocking her in class? #%&*$#.

Having not been a Hospice, just a personal experience with my own Father holding his hand
as he died,he could not speak since ALS took hos voice 4 months before his death and his
ability to eat, feeding tube installed into Stomach. Not a nice day. 2 months later he died.

Then living here the past 20 years, having personally discovering 6 of my residents dead.
And another 4 in a state that was so close to death they died before the meat wagon could
haul them to the Hospital 2 blocks down. The worst was the most awful scene you can imagine.
Get a call from family to go check on Dad, they had left hours before and he did not answer
the phone. Go up and knock, no answer. Hollered through as I open up. here he is half on his
couch and half off. Major Stroke and no way to talk he has blinded to. And had evacuated his
bowels. He was already dead, but not there yet. Dialed 911 right away and they were in minutes.
But He was already gone.

This only one of dozens now.

I have been exposed to the academe for a long time.

In my opinion, the system is obsolete. IIRC it is a system that traces its roots to the priviledged some centuries ago (started with rich/noble getting private education for their children). My memory's bad so anyone is welcome to correct this mistake about the roots of academic institutions.

That is a revenge artile. The Professor is too perfect for a classic case (i.e. a person who doesn't have an iota of real world insight). She may have waited years or decades to dish it out in public. I can't blame her. Still, I'm suspicious of anyone who carries a very old baggage. My rancor dissolves to indifference quite quickly so I might not have the insight to understand it.

Now, if her agenda is to free current students and give them the much needed support to survive an oppressive academe with their own ideas/thoughts intact... my respect.