A toxic pickle — Dad’s response
It is ok to talk about “it”. The green burial is a wonderful idea!
All things considered though, you should sit down and write a simple Burial Instructions document. Something like a simple will, it states your desires clearly. You could even include instructions as to the ceremony. Sign it before two unrelated witnesses. Give them a copy and give us one in a sealed envelope for our safe. While perhaps not totally legally binding, it is certainly morally binding on someone who might wish something be done differently than what you want.
Also, simple wills are easy to make on your own. Forms and CDs are a dime a dozen. Do one!
Yes David and I have. He wants to be cremated and his ashes spread near his favorite beach.
As for me, I have given it great thought. As a griever, I have always felt “shortchanged” at a funeral with the little urn. I have resolved that I would like a full viewing and funeral so those who wish can say adios. Then be cremated and placed in a place of my liking. A place that I want to perch and be. Right now that place is at my church.
Let’s all do our paperwork!
Dad
Sent from my iPhone
It goes without saying that I was very relieved to get Dad’s dad-like words of wisdom.
I told him that I would like to talk more next time I’m up to see him. In the back of my head, a nasty little though wiggled around: what if there will be no next time?
Shit, I don’t know why I have all this on my brain. That conversation with my co-worker brought it up, but it also leads to the fact that I just feel that we are on borrowed time! I’ve said it a few times already, and I can’t shake it. Is it a mid-life thing?
A while back, Brent said he wants to give his body to science. That way, his body will be of use after death. Then, they can cremate him and give the ashes to his family. I don’t know the specifics, but I’ve heard that it’s all free, but that the family would have to wait the good part of a year before ashes were returned.
I really, really can’t stand the idea of Brent’s body being hacked on and picked at..and generally mistreated by crazy college students!!!
It’s one thing to donate your organs after death in order to save a life, but…augh!…I don’t know about this donating thing. Why don’t they explore on prison inmates while they are alive? 
Some of those inmates where their crime is 100% proven and they are sentenced to life…they could use a good “exploration,” in my opinion.
July 26th, 2010 at 5:21 am
hell, I’d have been happy to have gotten ashes from either of my recent losses — but in one case they exist and were promised and the (perhaps not surprisingly) not delivered, in the other they were never even available.
but yeah, I also felt totally shortchanged by the lack of even a service — or a mention in the 1 line obituary.