PinnedMember-onlyExpectations Versus a Gothic Reality: What Do You Want Out of Life?A couple of weeks ago, I met up with fellow Medium writer Alicia Dominguez (and Gothic connoisseur) via Zoom to talk about my expectations. Before we started the call, she gave me some questions that I had to answer. I had homework. Hey now, I thought those days were over. …Noah Watry6 min readNoah Watry6 min read
PinnedMember-onlyThe Long and Winding Road: How I Became a Funeral DirectorI used to think they were laughing with me, but in reality, they were laughing at me. I always knew this, but I guess it’s what I wanted. I was choosing to act this way, after all. I had craved attention, in ways that didn’t matter to me in how…Funeral Director8 min readFuneral Director8 min read
Nov 11Member-onlyDear Josh…Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance. The very stages of grief that I learned about, spoke about, and preached are the very stages I am about to go through myself. I don’t want to. I can’t. I won’t. I know I have to. Josh, stay with me, my friend. When I…Noah Watry4 min readNoah Watry4 min read
Sep 25Member-onlyIs Technology Killing the Funeral Industry or Advancing It?There was a time when having a website was considered crazy. I’m not talking about the 80s or 90s. I’m talking about nearly a decade ago. At least, it was for the funeral home I was working at. I may have been a newly minted, fresh-faced apprentice funeral director, but…Noah Watry5 min readNoah Watry5 min read
Sep 20It’s My Birthday and I’ll Write My Own Obituary If I Want ToSeptember 20, 1984. Noah T. Watry was born. Future date, TBD. Noah T. Watry has passed away. Today is September 20, 2023. I am 39 years old. I’ve seen, heard, and done it all. You name it, I’ve tried it. You try to guess it, you won’t even be close. …Noah Watry3 min readNoah Watry3 min read
Jul 20Member-onlyThe Top 5 Moments in a Man’s LifeEveryone has moments in their life. Some moments are spectacular. Some are downright dreadful. Once in a while, we incur a moment so amazing, that it sticks with us forever. It’s a moment so impactful and meaningful, that we will tell its story any opportunity we come across. I’ve had…Noah Watry3 min readNoah Watry3 min read
Jul 17Member-onlyTo My Wife and Newborn Daughter, This is Your Moment“What do you want by age 25?” My teacher had asked all of us students to select one goal. One thing we wanted to achieve by the age of 25 years. I wrote down my answer and when my teacher looked it over, I was told that my response didn’t…Noah Watry4 min readNoah Watry4 min read
Jul 8Member-only30 Years Ago TodayIt’s not ideal, but it’s a start. And we all start from somewhere. I was once a long-haired, tatted-up skater whose only goal in life was to chill during the day and play poker at night. Eventually, like most, I became bored, lonely, and just wanted to do something with…Noah Watry2 min readNoah Watry2 min read
Jul 7Member-onlyOn and Off Call Weekends as a Funeral DirectorTGIF Thank God It’s Friday When I was a full-fledged funeral director, I dreaded weekends. That's because I was on call, Friday through Monday morning. Every other, of course, not EVERY weekend. That means I was working Friday, Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon…Funeral Service2 min readFuneral Service2 min read
Jul 1Member-onlyWhy Do We Act as if Death is Not Going to Happen?As if life on earth is eternal. We’ve seen family, friends, and even strangers die. I myself have seen it thousands of times. We know it is coming. There is no escaping it. There’s even a slogan for it: Death, Taxes, and (insert here). Death is completely, 100% unavoidable. Our…Noah Watry2 min readNoah Watry2 min read
