WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — What do you want to do before you die?
It’s a question many are pondering as they walk by a newly painted brick wall outside Revolution on Currier Street in downtown White River Junction.
The stenciled chalkboard features a series of prompts reading “Before I die I want to __” and people are encouraged to take a piece of chalk to fill in the blanks.
“The spirit of the program is people thinking about what matters to them, what their wishes and dreams are,” Cynthia Stadler, community liaison at Bayada Hospice, said as she worked on the project on Friday. “It’s about living, but it’s also recognizing that we’re going to die. We don’t even want to say the word. We say ‘pass away’ or ‘gone.’ … We’re afraid of that word.”
David Briggs gave the Norwich-based nonprofit organization permission to put up the temporary chalkboard wall, which is about 6½ feet tall and 25 feet wide.
“I’ve been driving past this wall for a while, thinking, ‘Wow, I wonder if they’d let us paint it here.’ ”
It will be up through the month of November in honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. “Before I Die” is a global art project that was started by artist Candy Chang. A few years ago, Stadler put up a similar display in Norwich.
“We want it to be something appropriate and affirming for everyone,” Stadler said. “It’s really fascinating what people write, and heartwarming. You don’t want it to be about politics or sex.”
As the wall fills up, Stadler will take photographs of the entries before erasing them to make room for more. Some photographs will be posted to the “Bayada Hospice, Norwich, VT” Facebook page.
Stadler was joined Friday morning by Bayada volunteers Jim Peters, of West Hartford, and Sara Johnson, of Hanover. They took turns spray-painting over a stencil that read “Before I die I want to” with a blank line with ample room for a response.
Peters started volunteering with Bayada more than a decade ago. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he would visit people in their homes, help them get to medical appointments and install handrails in their homes, among other tasks. He sees it as an extension of his Buddhist faith.
“A good portion of our teachings are about compassion and gratitude, so essentially I’m out there to help people reduce their suffering,” he said.
As the trio worked on the project, people passing by on foot or in their vehicles took notice.
“I want to go to at least three national parks,” Johnson said for her response to the big question.
“I want to see the Northern Lights,” Stadler said.
“Oh, me too,” Johnson replied.
“I want to see a moose with antlers,” Stadler continued. “I’d like to take an oil painting class.”
“I’d like to get back into art,” Johnson said.
People from all walks of life and all ages are encouraged to stop by.
“I love that it gets people excited,” Stadler said.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
