The Case of the Fictional Character King Benny

  • Thread starter ping-ping-clicka
  • Start date
  • This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.

ping-ping-clicka

Doctor of Teleocity
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Posts
10,137
Location
left coast
The character King Benny appears in the film: Sleepers.
He is portraited by Lorenzo Carcaterra, an American writer of Italian descent. Hell’s Kitchen is the setting for his most famous book, Sleepers, which was adapted as a 1996 film of the same name. Carcaterra was born in Hells Kitchen New York New York. His family is from the island of Ischia, eighteen miles off the coast of Naples.
xxxxx king benny.jpg


The author through the character introduced me to the term or concept of the "DIRT NAP"
Referring to death as a nap takes the edge off of what has been called the "BIG SLEEP".
a softening of of the finality of death.
Having spent 4 year in a cancer support group, I observe the hesitancy to talk about death ,dying, at all.
People in the group were consistently very fearful of death.
It's obvious every body dies with exception of the godz and even some of them are believed to be able to die, or be murdered.
" Down for the dirt nap" for me just rolls of the tongue. My beloved ex and late spouse is
"Down for the dirt nap", it's easier for me to think of her in this way than dead and moldering in the ground. King Benny askes Schneider don't be so worried what you go to loose? Your like everybody else.

Not so reassured, Schneider asks Wh-Wh-wh- what if I loose the case ? King Benny responds ,
"well then your down for the dirt nap very casually but in all seriousness.
King Benny is telling us meaning me , everybody dies , it's inevitable guaranteed , a sure bet, so lets not worry about death and get on with living , living today and let tomorrow show use what we need to do. King Benny reminds me of deaths friendly business agent who shows up to help when we are unsure.
king benny.png
 

t-ray

Tele-Afflicted
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Posts
1,748
Location
Vermont
I know I have not read the book and do not recall the movie. Will have to look for it. My wonderful wife left for the dirt nap over ten years ago. A real bummer for the children and me. Cancer, and by the end she was reconciled to it and did not put up a fuss. A pretty tough cookie. I like to think I am not scared of death, and just hope it is not a prolonged process or painful. At the same time, I would like to have a bunch more years and make the best of them as I can. Oh, my, aren't we getting all philosophical! Cheers.
 

Ironwolf

Doctor of Teleocity
Gold Supporter
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Posts
11,376
Age
69
Location
Boise, Idaho
I have heard and used the terms "big sleep" and "dirt nap" since at least the late '60s. Do you mean to tell me you were unfamiliar with that vernacular until this movie? Unbelievable.
 

ping-ping-clicka

Doctor of Teleocity
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Posts
10,137
Location
left coast
I know I have not read the book and do not recall the movie. Will have to look for it. My wonderful wife left for the dirt nap over ten years ago. A real bummer for the children and me. Cancer, and by the end she was reconciled to it and did not put up a fuss. A pretty tough cookie. I like to think I am not scared of death, and just hope it is not a prolonged process or painful. At the same time, I would like to have a bunch more years and make the best of them as I can. Oh, my, aren't we getting all philosophical! Cheers.
Thank you , really thank you sharing the intimate detail, your honesty empowers me , gives me permission to speak honestly and openly.
I was told that my throat cancer could become a fatal disease and " I'd be down for the dirt nap."
Soooo I had to make friends with death and not be afraid of death , the fear of death which is a fear not in the moment really it's about the future, The Future is none of my business .
A facilitator in the group said people aren't really afraid of dying we are afraid of suffering. a bullet to the brain stem ... lights out, good night thanks for playing bye., I saw a video made using the scope on a snippers rifle I see a soldier ridding on the side of an Abrams tank leaned against the side of the turret., he looking forward falls against the side of the turret , painless on - OFF. no pain no worry no suffering, snap your click your heals and your back in Kanas.

Encountering that which I really fear is less panful than living in fear.
 
Top