Ladies' magazines are so funny.  I picked one up at the Y while working out last week. It was supposed to be a special "Women's Health" issue; but mostly it was full of ads for creams and treatments to "reduce the appearance of aging." Several promised to be nearly as good as Botox injections, for one-third the price! Good grief.

            Dust we are, and to dust we shall return. Botox and creams can't change that fact. Working out and eating those five fruits-n-veggies make the intervening years more numerous and enjoyable; but eventually we shall transfer from this dusty place to God's heavenly mansions.  Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled... you know the way... I am the way."  We don't need to fear it. But preparing some of the details will ease that passage for ourselves and our loved ones.

            Here's my checklist for "dust management."  If you don't know whether you've done these steps, you might want to check with a family member, doctor, attorney... all of whom should have copies. We'll offer a workshop in April on preparing these items, in case you're missing some of them.

ü                     Advance Directive / "Living Will:" This is a written document, prepared when you're healthy for a time when you are not. It is addressed to your health care professionals, and specifies what sorts of treatments you do or do not want to receive under particular, end-of-life circumstances.

ü                     Health Care Proxy: This is a person, whom you trust to represent your healthcare wishes under circumstances not covered by your Advance Directive. It's important to have someone who is nearby, but NOT your doctor or attorney (and they should decline if you ask them).