Art Buchwald ending funeral watch

WASHINGTON – A funny thing happened to humorist Art Buchwald on the way to his grave.

Nearly four months after refusing potentially life-extending treatment for his failing kidneys, Buchwald is alive against all expectations.

He’s planning to spend the summer at his house on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., writing his twice-weekly newspaper column, finishing a book about his experience and waiting for Carly Simon – once tapped to sing at his funeral – to serenade him while alive.

“I’m in a very good mood,” Buchwald told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

“I was happy when I made the decision not to have dialysis and now I’m happy that I made a decision to go to the vineyard. I would say, on the basis of that, I’m a happy person.”

Buchwald, 80, made plans to leave his hospice for the island July 1 after his doctor said he was unlikely to die right away. Experts say he’s lived an improbably long time without properly functioning kidneys or dialysis.

The man who thought he was done suddenly has a to-do list again. Among the items checked off: scrapping plans for his own funeral.

He doesn’t understand the turnaround.

“Nobody’s been able to really explain what’s going on because I’m not taking dialysis,” Buchwald said. “I have to thank my kidneys.”