“We all live as long as we need to.” — Belgarath the Sorcerer

Top comment: He’ll probably have two eulogies. One that is archetypal but with some relatively well-written dialogue, and another immediately after that’s pretty much the same thing, except a few names and places changed around. — Rawrasaur

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry and Gene Roddenberry’s remains will be sent together into space.

Come on – that’s pretty damned romantic.

(Come on, you must be sick by now of fine Corinthian leather, Khan and Mr. Roarke clips.)

“Do we have to do this?” said the angel, who like all of God’s agents felt Compassion above all. “It seems so cruel. One more day, and she can see him become President.”

YES, said God. SHE HAS DONE HER JOB AND KNOWS THAT HE WILL SUCCEED. SHE WILL NOT SUFFER.

“But what of him? She raised him. Does he not deserve to show his grandmother all he managed to do in honor of her?”

HE WILL GRIEVE. THAT DOES HER HONOR AS WELL.

“But – one more day – ”

HIS LOSS WILL PUT IN HIM A GREAT RESOLVE, TO DO EVEN MORE TO BE WORTHY OF HER MEMORY AND LINEAGE. FROM THAT RESOLVE GREAT THINGS SHALL BE WROUGHT. THIS IS A TIME OF NEED. ULTIMATELY HE WILL DRAW STRENGTH FROM IT.

“It just doesn’t seem fair, is all.”

THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT. IT IS MERELY NECESSARY.

(crossposted from a comment at MetaFilter)