We All Die Someday

[Dr. Nosophoros]

Death is really the only thing in life (besides taxes) that is guaranteed and it can happen at anytime. We might slip on a bar of soap, get killed in a car crash on the way to work, or we might die of old age- but you never really know for sure when or where. When it does happen, something needs to be done with our bodies so we don't stink up the house.

Though it's just dead flesh, I would rather some respectable provision be made for the disposal of my body after death rather than just putting me out with the morning garbage. I find the practice of embalming and being put in a hermetically sealed coffin very strange and unnatural, the only exception being that had I been murdered, I might have a chance of being dis-intered at a later date if new evidence etc. was found and the person may be caught because I was preserved, that would be about the only plus to it IMO- and that is an extreme longshot. I find that the practice some Indian tribes (off the ground on a platform) to be a very natural and respectful way of corpse handling, but most likely not a good possibility in this age. I plan on being cremated and having my ashes thrown in Canyon De chelly, Arizona - my Grandfather had his thrown there, and after visiting it I could see why.

So my question is what do you want done with your corpse after you die or does it matter to you?

 

[Scott1]

Buried......no cremation (that's a no-no in my faith).....

I think it would be cool to have a picture, maybe a bio on my headstone.... I think it would be cool to have one last "forum post" for people to read for eternity!

Scott

 

[jewscout]

Buried in a casket that won't have me perfectly sealed away like some kinda time capsule. Let my body return to the earth.
And a tombstone that says: "I'm sleeping...go away!"

 

[lilithu]

I plan on being cremated and having my ashes thrown in Canyon De chelly, Arizona - my Grandfather had his thrown there, and after visiting it I could see why.

Canyon de Chelly is lovely!

So my question is what do you want done with your corpse after you die or does it matter to you?

Yes, it matters. I would like as many functional organs as possible to be donated. With the rest, I want it cremated and disposed of back into the natural cycle. I don't really care where, just as long as it's not kept in a perma-seal box. Some place far enough away from people that it wouldn't gross anyone out. As for wanting to be be in a specific place, I will once again be everywhere, given enough time. I wouldn't be against burial, but land is getting in short supply for the living. And as much as I love the cheesiness of modern cemetaries...ahem!...memorial parks, I don't need to take up space there.

 

[Jaymes]

I've made arrangements for my body to be shipped to the University of Tennessee and for it to rot in the woods and be studied by scientists when I die.

 

[Fluffy]

Well... seeing as I don't really see any point in wasting a dead body I might as well donate it to medical science and see if they can salvage anything. It would do a lot more good than burying it in the ground or burning it (I hope anyway )

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Death (the anthromorphic personification thereof, on the "Discworld") has noted that at least he only shows up once.

I'm with Lilithu! Anything still working, biologically, should be donated to someone that could use it. I've always liked the cremation idea better than being buried, though I haven't yet seen a place I love enough to wish my ashes would be scattered there. Except maybe Scotland, though I've yet to visit. My heart seems to yearn for it.

I've also lately found another option appealling, especially since I find fire so frightening. (I'll try to use the 'nice' description, since I know I'm not the only one among us with a weak stomach.) Several tribes/ peoples do this, which is to er... convince the departed (after they're departed) to become bite-sized pieces, then put them in an area where scavenger bird will pick 'em up for a nosh.Because of my close relationship with ravens, I would especially like it to be them.

I think it would be cool to have one last "forum post" for people to read for eternity!

Am I the only one thinking this would make an interesting thread? (Maybe I'm just morbid.) What would you say about your time here on Earth? What eulogy (sp?) would you give other RF members?

 

[Jaymes]

I've also lately found another option appealling, especially since I find fire so frightening. (I'll try to use the 'nice' description, since I know I'm not the only one among us with a weak stomach.) Several tribes/ peoples do this, which is to er... convince the departed (after they're departed) to become bite-sized pieces, then put them in an area where scavenger bird will pick 'em up for a nosh.Because of my close relationship with ravens, I would especially like it to be them.

Wow, now I'm finding that option attractive... ack, now I'm stuck between my desire to go out naturally while helping science and my desire to become part of the food chain!

 

[Druidus]

Left in the woods, perhaps with my organs taken for science. But definately left in the woods.

 

[Ceridwen018]

I think it would be cool to have one last "forum post" for people to read for eternity!

Like a will or something! Hehe--write it now and keep updating it till the end. You could give Rex the "combination" so he can release it. That would be very interesting...

 

[Scuba Pete]

It's a big ocean... I don't think they'll find me.

 

[Yerda]

When my clogs pop I want anything useful to be donated for medical use like transplants. The rest can go to the worms.

 

[kreeden]

This may sound morbid , but I have always wanted to be put back into the food chain . Burial at sea sounds good , but they don't allow it anymore , not without cremation first .

There was a First Nation lady north of here { in her 90s I believe } , who's death was in the paper awhile back . They had some type of get together at a hall in her town , where she said a few words about her hopes for the future of the young people , then she just disappeared . A few weeks later , they found her several miles in the forest , sitting up agaisnt a tree , hands folded on her lap holding her purse . I thought that was a beautiful way to go . She decided upon her time , found her tree and just passed on .

 

[Majikthise]

I wanted to be buried in my first car.1973 Dodge Charger,318 ,Holly 4barrel,cheater slicks ,chrome rims.:jam:

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Noooooo, NetDoc! I'll look and I'll look, even if I have to face down that frightening Giant Squid you were telling us about! (Although I'll probably just try to reason with him. Direct confrontation is not my strong suit.)

That's very interesting, Kreeden. It reminds me of another First Nation woman, who I knew only through reputation. She made feather wands, and these were things of such beauty that you could fly merely by looking at them. One day, she piled all of her crafting tools and works in progress into a mound of stuff, and set fire to them. She then walked off into the woods, where her mom found her, leaning against a tree and quite dead. According to the medical examiner, there was no actual cause of death. I guess she'd just decided that she'd done everything she'd wanted to do in this world and moved on to the next.

 

[michel]

I really don't care what happens to my body once I die. If doctors can find any useful 'bits', as far as I am concerned, they are welcome to pass them onto others-yugh what a thought!

I suppose I'll leave the decision to my kids - whatever they feel happy with!

 

[SoulTYPE]

WHen I die I pass all my soul to FeathersinHair and I would like someone to continue the tradition of the ST01

 

[Scuba Pete]

With friends like Feathers in Hair, I need not worry 'bout them thar Sea Monsters! By Garghhhh!

 

[SoulTYPE]

But I will not die till I have 1500 frubal or 3000 posts

or both

 

[Scuba Pete]

You are almost there my friend. I know that I will be shot in the left arm first (don't ask why or how), so I know that death is not yet imminent.