"Previously On Lost"

OK, I realize that the rest of the world went throught this debate about 14 months ago and I'm late for the party.  But, I'm going to post about the series finale of "Lost."  That's because I finally watched the last episode tonight.  If you've already been through this, then go ahead and skip this post.  If you're behind the times like me, are still working your way through the series, and don't want any spoilers, then you should skip this, too.  Anyone who's left can keep on reading.

Since finishing the final episode, I've been scouring the internet, reading the takes of all the "experts," hoping that they could explain what really happened.  You see, the ending left me confused.  I wasn't sure what really happened.  And, after investing so much time watching the show, I wanted closure.  So, I went looking for answers.

What I've found online is a bit of a mixed bag.  After reading a variety of interpretations, the version I'm going with is that the experiences on the island were real, the alternate world that played out in season six was not real (it was some sort of purgatory), and that, while Jack, Sun, Juliet, and some of their fellow travelers really did die on the island, others made it back to real world.  There's a bit of a problem with this theory in that those who think the experiences on the island were real don't seem to have good explanations for some of the crazy stuff that happened there.  Oh, well.  I'll go with this theory.

Regarding the finale, the more I think about it, the more I realize how much I liked it.  It just seemed "right" to me.  Sometimes I do stop and think about what happens when you die.  I'll admit it - thinking about it always frustrates me.  I like certainty.  Death, of course, is certain so I can grasp that.  What comes afterwards, though, is anything but certain.

For the sake of argument, let's assume there's a heaven.  What is it and what will it be like?  In the finale of "Lost," I thought that the explanation that Jack's dad gave to him at the church was great.  If I remember it correctly, Jack asked his dad why all those who were at the church were there.  His dad's response was that they were the people who had been part of Jack's life during his greatest time of need.  I like that.  If there is a heaven and you're lucky enough to make it there, who better to have with you, right?

Alright, enough deep thinking.  It's 9:55PM.  I need Nick to finish up his shift at Ledo's so I can pick him up and we can drive over to Fox Point together.  Wish me luck.  I'm usually in bed by now.