Aaron's Plan For Immortality

   "That's your plan for immortality? Your legacy? Have you been doing shots of bourbon for breakfast?''

   Liz looked at her friend Aaron with unbridled skepticism as she spoke, leaving no doubt as to what she thought of his plan.

   "I'm serious as colon cancer Liz, it's a good idea, admit it. Don't be trying to crush my dream because you didn't think of it first".

   Liz could barely contain herself, and with every ounce of will she could muster managed to not laugh out loud.

  "So", Liz began, "You seriously think that dying as a John Doe is going to somehow magically grant you lasting fame, or infamy, whichever, whatever. You think your name will live on because you died under mysterious circumstances and could not be identified? Exactly how is that supposed to work? What am I missing here?'

   Aaron took a quick drink of his cola and looked directly across the small table at Liz. "It's very simple Liz, even you should be able to get it. Over the past few years, probably actually decades now, the advancements made in DNA profiling have seen an incredible surge in cold cases, specifically murders, being reopened and then solved. The revelation of the John or Jane Doe's identity is featured on television shows and websites, and some of them even make not just local headlines, but national and even international headlines."

   "So...your plan involves you being murdered? And the police not being able to identify you? You're from a family of six Aaron, and you have three ex-wives. You were in the military. How are you going to arrange to not be identified, much less murdered?"

   "I do not have to be murdered to become a John Doe, Liz, I just have to die and not be readily identifiable, and my death has to be under fairly mysterious circumstances, preferably very public mysterious circumstances."

   "Oh, is that all there is to it? Hell, I might join you in this scheme for immortality - What are you thinking for mysterious and very public circumstances? Plane crash? Shark attack at a crowded beach? Building collapse? Maybe find a way to become the first victim of a new & deadly virus?"

   "You're a riot Liz, very funny. But I've got a good idea here and you know it. I just have to work out a few details."

   "Right. Dang details always get in the way of good plans, damn them all to hell".

   "Laugh all you want, but someday, years after we have fallen out of touch with one another, you're going to read or hear reports about a unidentifiable body that was recovered from the site of a disaster or accident, and then you're going to start recalling this conversation we're having, and you're going to realize that I actually had a good plan."

   "Uh huh. Sure". Liz looked at Aaron with her snarkiest of smiles and then asked, "When do we start on the part of your plan were we fall out of touch? Sooner than later, I hope."