Thursday, January 22, 2004

RSVP...

So what DOES one wear when hosting your own viewing?  I guess it doesn't matter if you've worn it before, or even if someone else is wearing the same exact outfit.  You can't really die of embarrassment since you're already dead.  However ... whatever you're wearing, you going to be wearing it FOREVER.  So you better like it.  A LOT.  The one decision I haven't been able to make is do I want to be buried or cremated?  Mausoleums are a nice idea, but you have to worry that yours might become the hangout for the local teenagers on the weekends.  I've seen many caskets exhumed on television and it appears that water frequently seeps into them.  A leaky basement is bad enough.  I couldn't stand being cold and  wet.  If I do go for the cremation several other concerns arise.  You can't be embalmed if you want to be cremated.  If you're not embalmed you can't have a viewing.  So it's either cremation with no viewing, or viewing and burial but no cremation.  And then what?  If I'm cremated I'd like my ashes placed into a columbarium.  That's a building in the cemetery where the walls have slots to house urns.  I don't want my kids to be burdened with my ashes, or if I'm married at the time of my death, have to worry that his new wife will suck me up with the vacuum.  The columbariums look like condos for dead people.  It's easy to imagine all kinds of activities going on in there for the dearly departed residents to engage in.  That could be fun.  Still ... I've always wanted a nice viewing.  A really fun one.  With music, food, chocolate, all kinds of sweets, Christmas decorations, drinking, singing and dancing.  I envision a band escorting me to the cemetery like they do in New Orleans with saxophones and trombones playing old gospel hymns. I want everyone to have such a good time that they look forward to going to the next funeral like mine, even if they have to host their own.  (continued ...) 

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

My dad saved my mom's ashes til he passed and wanted them spread together. We placed them in a rose garden together and that's how I'd like to be, with my wife when I pass. Lanny

Anonymous said...

I always wanted a good ol Irish wake sort of thing. Lots of laughter and good stories to share. I want to be buried rather than cremated. I find it comforting to have a place to go and visit the dearly departed. Plus the idea of my body burning? ::shudder:: no thank you. But hopefully, we will have many many years before any of these preparations should be made.

Anonymous said...

**Congrats on AOls journal pick! I for one want the cremation, the physical body is not the consciousness. My spirit will be around those I left behind, not in a hole in the ground! I want the party with lots of munchies and hopefully some good pictures of me. Forget the casket thats not where I want to be, throw me in the wind and let me be free. BBeckyl/It'sJustLife

Anonymous said...

Congradulations on being one of the top five. You got a nice journal! We homeschool and I have two kids one 23 who graduated from Homeschooling & is teaching at a private school & one 16 who has her permit now. Both care for the elderly & love kids and animals. We also go camping too. Both are in Piano and Karate. Post in my journal & see how our daily life goes on I 'd love to hear from you. LORI

Anonymous said...

OH MY GOODNESS CONGRATS! YOU DESERVE THIS SO MUCH. THIS IS THE FUNNIEST JOURNAL OUT THERE..EVERYBODY...I LOVE HER! I JUST WANTED TO POP IN AND TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I WAS TO JUST SEE YOU UP THERE. I'LL BE BACK TO READ LATER ON. huggggs

Anonymous said...

Congrates on making the top 5 again and being #1!!

Love these last few entries on regards to death. I think about my wake some times too and also want it to be more of a party. I could care less about my stuff and who it goes to, cuz as it is said It all burns in the End anyways.


Mary was here X

Anonymous said...

Haven't even read what you wrote yet! I'm too busy saying YAHOOOOOO! Finally! You're in first place! I've been waiting so long. No, I won't say congratulations to you but to AOL for finally realizing what a talent and a joy you are!
Angela

Anonymous said...

Okay, wait! Serious (very serious) question here. Why can't you be embalmed and then cremated?

Anonymous said...



Anonymous said...

GREAT NEWS! Upon further investigation I've discovered that you CAN be cremated AND have a viewing! It's OK to be embalmed then set on fire! It just doesn't get any better than that! Just wanted you all to know in case you were worrying too! Lisa (The... Occupant)

Anonymous said...

Our Mother was in hospice care. Our time with her growing shorter and shorter. Suddenly the feeling began to grow that if we honored her wishes to be scattered. We would be left with nothing. No place, no memorial, nothing. We needed to memorialize her. We needed to honor her life. We needed a "place" to reconnect with her in an emotional and spirtual way.
And of course we wanted to honor our mothers wishes to be scattered in the beautiful oceans that she loved.

The idea was born to create a glass memorial with a small amount of her ashes for each of the 7 children. We went to mom and asked her what she would like. She was thrilled with the idea that each of her children would keep a small part of her with them and pass her memory on to the generations to come. She truly felt honored. She would tell anyone who would visit..."have you heard about the memorials".

We had our memorials made. They were so special. So personal and so comforting to each of us, and we were able to honor Mom's final wishes.

We decided then and there that we most certainly were not the only family looking for ways to solve issues concerning cremation memorials. So, we created Genesis Memorial Glass, Inc. Using photography of deep space taken by the Hubble Telescope as inspiration.

We specialize in creating dignified cremation memorials. Giving families affordable options, and returning beauty and elegance to cremation memorials.

To visit our gallery go to http://www.memorialsnglass.com
or visit YouTube and go to "The Genesis Experience