Are We Immortal Yet?: Essays and Stories

From the hauntingly beautiful narrative of discovering a long-abandoned Steinway grand piano to the mundane experience of fixing a toilet, this unique collection brings ordinary moments into clear focus in today s hurried and complex world. Divided into three chapters, these brightly lit vignettes offer thoughtful analysis on life, death and one's place in the world. The first part features ten narrative essays, each connected to the other as something deeper is revealed: a fallen tree becomes a lesson in value, a long-deserted house offers a window into a bygone American era, and growing vegetables on the front lawn becomes more than gardening. The critical essays in second section explore everything from vampires to drug abuse and mental illness that, taken together, offer a unique perspective on life, economics and the arts in twenty-first century America. The final section is a fictional sneak-peek of what's in store for American society. How soon before home gardeners start growing their own body parts? What happens when people live to the age of two-hundred years? What if the American government shut down for two years or more? Funny, poignant and thought-provoking, Are We Immortal Yet? offers a fresh perspective on life, death and - just maybe - our coming immortality. Part-David Sedaris, Part-Wendell Berry, Dave Wheeler writes with humor, warmth and purpose.