sex & death

We discussed the similarities between sex and death in class on wens. and i couldn't follow very clearly bc it was early and i was sick, but it made me think about why we are being asked to consider them together, to explore their similarities. There is the obvious, they are booth taboo subjects because of their controversial nature. But they  also share in common that inherently they are intended to be beautiful phenomenons of life. Sexual intercourse leads to conception equating in a new physical life, and death as some believe ushers the deceased into a new "spiritual" life. I believe sex and death are related in that sense. And adding to that thought, when sexual intercourse produces conception there is no memory of it for the conceived,(i am glad i have no recollection of my conception...gross) as prof. Piekarski stated for the dead the brain has died as well, so there is no memory of death for the deceased either. Thus there is no real existing memory of conception or literal death, making both quite allusive.

However the intense feelings conjured during sex and the memorable parts of the death process are unforgettable. There are few people who don't remember their "first time", and most people having been with multiple partners throughout their life can easily remember the fist sexual exchange with each partner. The adrenaline, fear, freedom, physical euphoria, (insert intense sexual feeling) make it hard to forget. As with death, those surviving near fatal experiences never forget. When i was 8 i lived on an island and went into the ocean as i normally did. There was a hurricane blowing in from the south and the waves were immense. I swam too far out and a large wave crushed over me and trapped me beneath. I will never forget the sensation of death, not being able to rise up from the water, the panic followed by peacefulness i experienced, the total loss of awareness of  time, the virtual silence and finally the beautiful colors i saw as i lost consciousness. (two immigrants in a boat saved me) The adrenaline, the panic, and the soothing reality of the finality of death was euphoric, much like sex...spiritual. This is how i also feel the two are related...Far fetched maybe...but i needed something to blog about before friday...