Death Musings

Death Musings

What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This one takes a sideways look at death, grief and love that’s messy, funny and painfully human. Matt Salis reads his essay "Death Musings", sharing stories that swing from dark humour to gut-punch tenderness, all against the backdrop of a life touched by alcoholism and ongoing recovery.

You’ll hear about his ageing mum, once a "badass" water skier who now battles dementia, clings to her beloved garden, and casually handles skunk spray and a cardboard-box cremation like they’re just items on the to-do list. Her garden obsession contrasts sharply with Matt’s dad, whose approach to wildlife control is anything but gentle, raising sharp questions about how different people treat life and death.

Matt moves from his grandfather’s chaotic, ash-on-the-boat "burial at sea" to the far more intimate losses in Sheri’s world: the passing of her beloved one-eyed cat Gordon and her emotionally volatile mother. Gordon, described as a "snarled, greasy mess" with a look only a mother could love, embodies pure, reciprocal affection, while Sheri’s mum represents love tangled up with criticism, insecurity and emotional harm.

There’s sharp social commentary too – on true crime obsession, selfie culture and how grief exposes what really matters. Matt admits, "When it comes to the stereotype about men not crying, I'm about as masculine as a tampon," giving an honest nod to the raw emotions that often sit underneath addiction, recovery and family dynamics. For anyone facing loss, complicated family ties or the emotional fallout of addiction, this candid, darkly funny reflection offers connection rather than neat answers.

It asks, in its own sideways way: how do you make peace with imperfect love and the certainty of death while trying to heal?