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According to Hofmann: The touch, the feel…of Death!

By Mark Hofmann mhofmann@heraldstandard.Com 5 min read
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Over the last week, I’ve learned the art of shameless self-promotion as I released my second book, “Good Mourning! A Guide to Biting the Big One…and Dying, Too,” available exclusively on Amazon.com. I also didn’t have time to write a column for this week because I’ve been busy learning the art of shameless self-promotion for my second book, “Good Mourning! A Guide to Biting the Big One…and Dying, Too,” available exclusively on Amazon.com. So, I found no better way to mask laziness with shameless self-promotion than making this weekĢƵ column a chapter from “Good Mourning! A Guide to Biting the Big One…and Dying, Too,” available exclusively on Amazon.com. Portions of the chapter from “Good Mourning! A Guide to Biting the Big One…and Dying, Too,” available exclusively on Amazon.com have been changed for context.

Sometimes your parents surprise you like when they make the decision to tell you what they had to do with each other to create you, which is a claim I have yet to believe.

One such surprise came after my mother informed me on how to find out what a dead body feels like. Why she decided to tell me something like that following my high-school graduation commencement is still a mystery, but itĢƵ something I haven’t forgotten…no matter how hard I try.

To find out what the skin of a dead body feels like, you need a volunteer–and, for GodĢƵ sake, don’t tell them what you need them for or they’ll never want to see you, return your phone calls, reply to your text messages or refuse to lift the restraining order.

What you and this lucky person must do is face each other, press your hand against the other personĢƵ hand, palm to palm, and rest your extended fingers against the other personĢƵ fingers, almost looking like a tag-team prayer.

Then, with your other hand, run your finger over the side of the surface of both fingers so you’re feeling your finger and the other personĢƵ finger at the same time.

Feeling the familiar sensation of your own hand mixed with the alien feeling of someone elseĢƵ flesh, according to my mother, is supposed to feel the same as running your finger over the skin of an actual dead person.

My motherĢƵ technique was certainly less creepy than the alternative, but it still didn’t make me feel any better after I tried the experiment and was struck with a full-body shiver lasting for several minutes. Of course, during those tremors on the bathroom floor, my mind couldn’t help to question how the idea of mimicking what a dead personĢƵ skin feels like came about.

One could only imagine every attempt ended with two people in an awkward stretch of silence while avoiding all eye contact.

Two possible scenarios popped into my mind, and I can’t get them out…no matter how hard I hold my breath until I lose consciousness.

The first scenario deals with a funeral director preparing a body for a viewing, and his hand brushes against the skin of the corpse.

“Hmmm…,” he says to himself and then gets his secretary on the intercom. “Jan, please come down to the basement, and make sure to bring your hands. I have a kooky idea.”

And in all the time leading up to the “kooky idea,” poor Jan was only afraid of being a victim of sexual harassment.

The second scenario involves a coroner, and heĢƵ in bed with his wife or girlfriend or lady of the evening or a one-night stand or a chance encounter with his former babysitter that he had the hots for and finally sealed the deal because she always wanted to ride in a hearse due to some weird daddy issues.

Anyway, back on point, they just finished making sweet, sweet love, and they’re holding hands when the coroner caresses his free hand over their entangled hands.

“Hmmm…,” he says and then whispers in her ear. “My dear, I’ve touched many dead bodies in my day and being here with you now has given me a kooky idea.”

Yes, I know thereĢƵ something wrong with me because I used the word “kooky” in both scenarios, but thatĢƵ the word on which I’m hung up at the moment.

Now, if you haven’t heard of this kooky thing before now, you’re going to be compelled to try it, much like when someone tells you itĢƵ impossible to lick your own elbow or run for public office. So I want you to put your elbow down and pay attention to the advice I gave earlier about recruiting someone for this experiment.

Also, take heed of this suggestion as well: don’t use the word “kooky” at any time during the experiment. It might make things a bit awkward.

According to Hofmann is written by staff reporter Mark Hofmann of Rostraver Township. His books, “Good Mourning! A Guide to Biting the Big One…and Dying, Too” and “Stupid Brain”, are available on Amazon.com. He co-hosts the “Locally Yours” radio show on WMBS 590 AM every Friday.

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