| "Well, I can't answer this question
briefly. I love graves. I especially like tombs. Old moss-covered
stone ornaments and wrought iron. Stained glass windows in gothic
crypt doors. A simple stone bench beneath a graceful spreading oak
tree. A place of beauty and solitude that is there for the living
to enjoy and remember.
But I don't like the idea of having
my guts sucked out and formaldehyde pumped through my body, (and damn if
you don't mold all up anyway). Better to just wrap up in silk
and go straight into the earth. Then plant a beautiful flower garden
and be compost.
I do like the spiritual symbolism
of going up in flames, however. And ashes are sweet, you can divide
yourself up into little glass vials and give them out to your remaining
friends. (I know someone who had his ashes mixed with star shaped
silver glitter and divvied it up into antique perfume bottles - that's
classy. Yes, he was a queen.) But it seems kind of silly to
bury ashes. And scattering them in the wind is just so...flaky.
Hmm, I think I'd have to say I'd
want to be greedy and have it both ways. I want a grave in a medium
sized, (classically wrought iron) fenced-in plot beneath big shady trees.
Let enough sunlight shine down to grow rose bushes. Flashy colored
ones, like the bicolor yellow and orange, and deep blood red kinds.
Cut out my heart and bury it amidst the roses. Put a comfortable
stone bench in, and a simple but elegant stone guardian angel. Burn
the rest of me and distribute my ashes amongst friends. (And yes,
I want to be in attractive antique perfume bottles, that's too good an
idea not to steal. Glitter's optional.) Make sure there's a gate
in the fence, and that it's never locked.
Put up a sign that says: 'Please
pick the flowers.'" |