"After he was diagnosed, we had a lot of conversation about how we were
going to face the harsh reality that ALS is always fatal. We didn't want
to waste our precious time trying to chase down miracle cures or doing
things that might extend his life for a few days or weeks. What was the
point of a few more days if he was suffering? We decided to live
'hope-free,' which isn't the same thing as hopeless. It's about
embracing the reality of what is. Jamie was very clear that he didn't
want to focus on the fact that he was dying. He was alive, and he
intended to keep living fully, every single moment, until death took
him. For both of us, that meant that we couldn't squander time. It also
felt essential not to squander the lessons that living/dying had to
teach us. Jamie was all about learning, right up until the end." In this
moving conversation, Jamie's wife Maren Showkeir, and singer/songwriter
Barbara McAfee, discuss the profound lessons gleaned from Jamie's way. A
dear friend of the Showkeirs, Barbara was inspired to write and share
"Living/Dying Man," a stunning musical tribute to Jamie. Listen to the
song, and read the conversation here.
