The alternative to tragedy is damnation. The only place outside heaven you can be safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell.

I had a feeling this wasa one of the places Joss was leading us to with S5 of Angel. Whether or not he was, it feels particularly apt to me.

Is it about how you die, so much as how well you live before you die?

In the Jossverse I'd say it's also about what happens after you die, which is the crux of my argument. We know there is an afterlife, but Fred—perhaps uniquely among human beings—doesn't get one. Or if the best authority on the process is wrong, then what Fred gets is for little rotted shards of her self-awareness to exist forever mired in the midst of Illyria's far vaster self.

Susan, is that from "A Grief Observed"? I wonder where the hell my copy went.

Yeah, I just want to have a cup of tea with him. You know that book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, I've never read it, or even the comments on the covers. The title sends my imagination soaring, more than it grabs me to read the book.

I know! When I first heard about it I hoped it was a sort of game-within-a-book or a book of interviews w/ well-known people asking them that question. I was disappointed when I found out it was just a novel.

I think Lewis might make my list; my agnosticism makes me kinda not sure about some of his Christian-theme works (love LWW though, studied it in Children's Lit. this term), but since we'd be in heaven I'd probably be rethinking things.

Shakespeare for sure although he'd probably be worn out; "I have to meet people all day! I just wrote some plays, why are you all so curious about me?"

What ep is "it's a sickness, Buffy" from?

Connie, it's from The Four Loves.

The Four Loves

Ah. I read that at some point. I think I even have a copy. It made me cry. I need to find it and read it again.

Back to the library!

Susan, I posted that in my LJ so I will see it and think about it often. Thank you.

As did I.

You're welcome. It's always been one of my favorite quotes.