An interesting interview [part 1, part 2] with author Kurt Vonnegut at the McSweeney’s homepage:
Q: When I was reading Dr. Kevorkian, I was reminded a bit of a Japanese film from a couple years ago called “Afterlife.”
Vonnegut: I haven’t heard of it.
Q: It’s premise is that those who have recently died are taken to a waiting room for one week, during which time they must choose only a single memory from their entire lives which will endlessly replay for them, while all of their other memories are erased.
Vonnegut: So everybody’s fucking, right?
Q: See, that’s the peculiar thing. Maybe in your world or mine, everybody’s fucking. But in this movie, some of the memories are much simpler, almost elegant. Many people can’t choose a memory at all.
Vonnegut: See, that’s a whole different culture. I don’t know anything about it.
Q: Any idea what memory you might choose?
Vonnegut: [Long pause] I think it would be the moment where I was doing everything right, where I was beyond criticism. It was back in World War II. It was snowing, but everything was black. The trucks were rolling in. I was surrounded by my buddies. And my rifle was between my knees, my helmet on my head. I was ready for anything. And I was right where I belonged. That would be the moment. It would have to be the moment.
Q: There are not many moments in a man’s life like that, I would imagine.
Vonnegut: No. But you know who gets those kinds of moments all the time? A musician. They’re doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. I look at a symphony orchestra and everybody’s doing exactly right. How the fuck do they do that? It’s like watching somebody’s who’s just inherited a big bunch of money. “Well, enjoy yourself…. I’m just gonna fuck off — you know what I’m saying.”
After Life really is a touching and wonderful film. And it’s true, there are not many moments like that in most of our lives, when we feel as if we truly belong, as if we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing, as if everything that has gone before was simply preparing us for this moment. To know that all is right with the world and that you are ready for anything because you are where you are supposed to be. Treasure those moments when they come.