If You Were to Die Young...

Good morning:  Here is my first blog post.
Lyrics for the song "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry...
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh uh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when
She stands under my colours, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it oughta be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well, I've had just enough time
If I die young bury me in satin.
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh (uh oh)
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys, and I'll wear my pearls
Songwriters: Kimberly Perry
If I Die Young lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
An unknown author writes:  "Written by Kimberly Perry, “If I Die Young” was released in June 2010 as the second single from the group’s self-titled debut album.  It’s gone on to become one of the emerging band’s most popular songs. In the lyrics, Perry daydreams of an untimely death. Over the course of the song, the singer comes to the conclusion that, if she should “die young,” she would be happy with the life she’s lived, and she would hope for her loved ones to celebrate her, rather than mourn her passing.  Interestingly, in the music video, [she] comes back to life in the end, befitting to the positive and upbeat message of the song."
I heard this song on the radio this morning, and it vaulted itself back into my consciousness some nine years after it was released.  It is a very unconventional song (see the video here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Die_Young ) and arrangement, but it became a huge hit--really, the breakout song of the band.  It is a very touching song, and really pulls on your heartstrings.  You cant help but feel sad for the person who passed away at a young age (although that age is never defined) and the emotional connection is strong to the unknown singer talking about her lost life.  Perhaps we can all identify with her words as she thinks about what a tragedy it would be to die young and not to have lived her whole life.  Even in the Bible, we have Psalms 90:12 (NLT): "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."
What does this have to do with the legal world?  
Certainly it is a tragedy when someone "dies young" without the benefit of having lived their whole life.  Death at a "ripe old age" can also be, I would argue, a tragedy.  The first thing I thought of when I heard the song mentioned above was "I hope that girl in the song has a validly written and executed will and last testament."  I guess that is how I know I am supposed to be a lawyer dealing with estate planning and elder law.  Certainly when a person dies young there can be a general feeling of waste of potential, or the loss of things that could have been awesome for the whole world.  When a person dies at an advanced age we often think that he or she has had a good long life and that that fact takes away some of the "sting" of their death.   But in either case, the death is a tragedy if the person has not endeavored to prepare beforehand by, at a minimum, writing a will.  Hopefully in my practice over the next few years, I can help people, young and old alike, to plan for their future, which necessarily includes their passing--be it timely (at a ripe old age) or untimely (everyone over the age of 18 should have a will).  Perhaps I can help you today.  Give me a call.