Pope John Paul II died and the world morned the loss. Two days later a new pope was selected and the world rejoiced. What a fickle world we are. Personally I felt very little when he died, a general sort of sadness yes but not falling to my knees in grief. My mother called me in tears and morners were headline news for several days. Why? They did not know him, they don't even know the name he was born under. They morn the loss of their symbol not the man himself. If anyone has the right to grieve over his death it is the people who knew him as a person.

When I die I do not wish to be grieved over by strangers. May I be remembered by the people who know me. The ones that saw me cry, laugh, and scream. I do not care to be a headstone I want to be a memory. My Grandfather is remembered that way. I can count on one hand the times i've seen his grave but I have heard enough stories and memories about him to make him an important person. The memories he left behind made him someone important to those that knew him. I want to be that.

We will remember Pope John Paul because he was a pope. Not a person or a memory that means something to us but a title. I do not wish for fame or titles, I want to be a memory. So the next time you see a death in the headlines feel sorrow yes, but don't delude yourself. Realize that the real grief is felt by someone who actually knew them not read their story on paper.