abaya - re-read my post. I completely and totally agree with you. I'm not thinking of this as a day that they die again, just a day long visit.

It would be worth any amount of money to me.

I think I would, in that situation...my line of thinking is bringing them back for a day, only to have them die a second time.
I would ask my brother-in-law what the fuck was he thinking?? I would introduce my kids to the grandfather they never knew. But I know my own grandfather would smack me on the back of my head telling me I'm being stupid-take the money!

Gotcha, Jess... sorry for not giving you (and Lurkette) more credit, but I guess the overall vibe of the thread seems pretty "You'd be stupid not to take the money" and/or "Why the hell would you want to bring someone back?" type thing, which just wasn't jiving with me. As I said, I agree with that perspective in some circumstances, but not in all, and certainly not in mine.

Anyway, it's all hypothetical, so I guess it doesn't really matter. But I still find the idea interesting.

I would ask living family and friends for consensus in something like this. It would be inconsiderate if I was the only one in charge of the decision.

I would take the money. I work for a peds hospice. I watch people die. I would never want to relive the death or even the loss of a loved one. The thought actually horrifies me. But I deal with it on a daily basis... loss and death... so I perceive the situation differently.

I think it certainly must depend on the circumstances and the person...perhaps some people simply haven't lost people they were extremely close to, or have lost them in circumstances that gave them time to make peace and have some measure of closure, like a grandparent - I lost my grandfather not long before I lost my brother, but because he was old and I pretty much expected that he would die some day soon, I got to say everything I needed to say. He'd lived a long life, he knew I loved him, and when he died I was sad but it doesn't stay with me as the kind of loss that Josh's death was. Josh totally knew I loved him, and vice versa, but he was gone so suddenly, and so young. I'd give just about anything to make sure he was okay and make sure he knew not just how much I love him, but how much I admire and respect him. I don't see how it would be a loss all over again. You'd know that it was only a day...you'd be prepared. I guess for people who still have things to say, or like abaya and justjess who lost people early in their lives, maybe it's just a completely different ballgame.

I'll have the money.

I could see it now.... "Mom, hey its been 10 years! I missed you!" -SLAP- "Yea, youre right..." and that would be extent of my visit with my mom cuz i know she'd do the same.

And anyways, the last time I saw her, she looked at me and Im pretty sure she didnt recognize me. That was hard enough to fix....