Joking about death is a perfectly healthy coping mechanism, a way of downplaying the uncertainty of what, if anything, is on the other side. For some, it's the last great adventure. For others, it's the ultimate stripping away of everything that's materialistic and trivial. For some, it's plain old scary as hell.

As for me, when I cross over, if my family and friends don't joke about it, well, I'll know that they didn't learn much from me while I was here. But that's just how I want to do it.