A must-read

Cliff and I watched a DVD last week suggested by my blogger buddy, Anne. It's entitled "A Family Undertaking". We were both touched, and blown away by the concept.

Anne had suggested the DVD after I mentioned Meesha's entry about Jewish funerals.

Anyhow. The DVD led me to order a book called "Grave Matters".

It's a must-read. No matter what your opinion about funerals and such, you need to read this book. It is not boring; in fact, it's riveting. Read the book!

Oldest granddaughter Amber is spending the night. I told her a while ago, "If you want to look at me and your grandpa, do it now. Because you won't be seeing our pickled corpses after we die; we won't be pickled, and our corpses won't be on display!"

I think she's good with that.

Cliff and I agree that our family probably couldn't handle the home funeral thing, but we think they'll be fine with cremation.

Isn't in the neatest thing, how these wonderful bloggers led me gently down a path that makes perfect sense, which I would never have considered without their guidance?

Bury me like a Jew

Cliff and I are in our sixties now, and we sometimes talk about our funerals and what our preferences are.

I always tell Cliff that if it were up to me, I'd be cremated. But if he outlives me and that makes him uncomfortable, he can do whatever he wants with this worn-out body that will only be a shell that used to house my soul.

I have to say that the older I get, the more I enjoy funerals. I know that sounds sick, but hey... it's a family reunion! You get to see people you never see under other circumstances. And yet....

Not so long ago, I read an entry by the Kansas City Russian that really hit home.

Can you really do that, Meesha? People tell me you have to buy the vault, that it's the law. A simple box would do me just fine, but folks tell me it isn't possible.

You're right, the makeup and embalming is creepy.

When I'm dead it won't matter to me, so the family can do whatever they're comfortable with. But if it were my choice, I'd be either cremated, or buried like a Jew.

Just remember, I DO want a headstone someplace.

getting older and dying

I was referred to an article through Dr. Kevin's blog that is quite thought-provoking. I read things like this:

"Everyone wants to grow old and die in his or her sleep, but the truth is that most of us will die in pieces. Most will be nibbled to death by piranhas, and the piranhas of senescence are wearing some very dull dentures"

"This isn't about euthanasia. It's not about spiraling health care costs. It's about the gift of life -- and death. It is about living life and death with dignity, and letting go"

"At some point in life, the only thing worse than dying is being kept alive."

Read the entire article HERE.