The joy of occasionally re-reading a book is that you come across phrases or paragraphs that spark recognition, especially if you enjoyed them the first time around.
I’ve been reading the Gamache series by Louise Penny recently (my other book club had the first one on it’s list earlier this year) and I’m liking them just as much as the first time around. Yesterday I came across section in The Cruelest Month. The characters are taking part in a séance when they are frightened by an interruption:
A window pane rattled and a horrible face appeared at the glass. The circle gasped and recoiled. “For Christ’s sake, Dorothy, I know you’re in there,” screamed the voice. It wasn’t what Clara had imagined would be the last words she’d hear on earth. She’s always thought they’d be, “What were you thinking?”
This paragraph made me laugh out loud – again. I know there are folks that like to find out the last words of famous and a quick internet search finds a lot of hits. The only one that I can ever seem to remember is attributed to Oscar Wilde. “This wallpaper is killing me. Either it goes or I go.” I’m not sure this is accurate but because it’s the kind of thing that Oscar Wilde would have said, I’ve always remembered it. I also remember another quote attributed to him – “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”
I’m pretty sure my last words will be “Will there be donuts?”
Anyone’s last words that you remember? That you’d like attributed to you?
Trail Baboon 
“Mother of mercy! Is this the end of Rico?!”
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Just looked it up.. : )
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“Made it Ma! Top of the world!”
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The quote attributed to Oscar Wilde is the one that first comes to mind for me as well.
Not precisely last words but nearly so are these from Henry Thoreau:
A pious aunt asked Henry if he had made his peace with God. Henry replied, “I wasn’t aware we had quarreled.”
Parker Pillsbury tried to engage Henry in speculations about the afterlife. Henry’s response: “One world at a time.”
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His “one world at a time” remark was perfectly in keeping with another sentiment of his:
“In any weather, at any hour of the day or night, I have been anxious to improve the nick of time, and notch it on my stick too; to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and future, which is precisely the present moment; to toe that line.”
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My paternal grandmother was very concerned my grandfather, on his death bed, hadn’t made peace with God and asked him repeatedly if he had. He kept answering her in the affirmative. She kept asking. He finally asked her “Do I have to draw you a picture?”
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Rise and Sayeth Thy Legacy, Baboons,
I think the most interesting last words situation ever, is the one between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of our USA. They had been corresponding by letter in their later years, after many years of estrangement. They had notoriously disagreed about the roles of the Federal and State Government. (John Adams–strong Fed; Thomas Jefferson–strong states). Jefferson alleged last words (but actually not. He said something else later) were “Is it the Fourth?” And Adams last words are documented as “Jefferson survives.” Now I challenge anyone to find a more public or dramatic end of life for two rivals. Where are the movie-makers who could put this on a screen?
Commentary: I am trying remember lately, as we try to get through the current felonious mess, that every day of the 50 years of Adams and Jefferson until 7/4/1826, they wondered if our Constitution and nation would survive. Almost every moment of my life, I just assumed our country would be as it was until several months ago. If they can do it for 50 years, I will try to fight for it during the next four. The minute I can walk well enough again, I will be out there protesting.
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PS, Oscar Wilde was wildly funny throughout a tortuous life and in death.
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A response, which I have appropriated on various occasions, was Bob Hope’s, when asked where he would like to be buried:
“Surprise me.”
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So many that it could be… Knowing myself, it will be something like ‘I know a shortcut!’ or ‘I know, do it this way.’ or ‘Ha! Let me try that!’ I’ll be it’ll be “Oops…”
Remember what the National Park Service says, Don’t ‘boop’ the wildlife.
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The famous last words in that case would be,
“I’ll boop the wildlife if I want to. Who is going to stop me?”
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This sent me on a webquest for the facts about Dorothy Parker. A couple of articles:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/09/19/dust/
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2022/08/19/dust-pretty/
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It’s been said that Janis Joplin’s final recording was “Mercedes Benz”, three days before she died. At the end of the a capella recording, she says “That’s it!” and chuckles.
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Our friend Walken, who passed in February… don’t know what his last words were, but could have been his signature farewell when he was leaving: “Shine on.”
Don’t know where he’s gone, but I do know that whatever entities are there are meeting this new presence and going “Whoa!”
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