Robert Anton Wilson on optimism during serious illness

Eric Wagner, author of An Insider's Guide to Robert Anton Wilson, kindly shared this email written by Robert Anton Wilson, dated August 31, 2006:

Dear. dear friends,

First of all, I want to thank you for the love & support you have 
given me over the past months.

Lately, however, I have been getting a lot of advice about how I 
should live & how I should face the dying process. I am asking, with 
great love, that my friends no longer share with me their insights 
about my health or when I might die. I have my own instincts about my 
capacity to bounce back and about which activities feed my soul. These 
feelings are very positive, & I don't want my positive gut-feeling 
dampened and confused by the projections of others.

If those who believe I am at death's door are proven to be 
correct, indeed, they can claim a prize at my funeral. Otherwise, I apologize.

Your beloved friend,

Robert Anton Wilson

DON'T PRAY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE
WON'T THINK IN YOUR CHURCHES

Wilson died on Jan. 11, 2007.

Richard Rasa comments, "I remember this email. When I was with him, he would often talk about the doctor’s theories, often with disdain. I would often tell him that we all would really be better off if he stuck around for as long as possible. He liked hearing optimistic wishes and projections, especially because the doctors were so often wrong, or bull-headed. Seeing this old email reminds of how much I loved that guy!"