Seems like a strange topic to write on … but a post by Annarashbrook on the death of her friend Paggy set me thinking.
Anna’s question on the fate of our possessions, reminded me of one of my pet peeves … how I wish to be buried !! 🙂
But let me deal with Anna’s question first. I have a twin plus two siblings who have six children between them. Since my twin and I have no direct heirs, we leave everything in trust for ‘the six’ to share as they think fit. ‘Everything’ for me consists of a property and some ‘investments’ to live on since I retired. Not a fortune but sufficient for the day …
I have no idea how my other day to day possessions will be disposed of. I do not have much in any case except books, books and more books – theology mainly. Maybe they might give them to a library or keep them as keepsakes of their aunt, who they teased would be a ‘popess’ 🙂 … MAYBE !!!
Now to my idiosyncrasy – my anathema of local tradition to bury females in a long dress with socks on! I do not wear long dress and can’t stand to think of being so dressed with white socks. Uggghs! But I am yet to see a female corpse in – denims or pants. (It did make me wonder how they dress women in other countries?)
So I have said I would like to be dressed in a sarong: viz. a couple of yards of cloth wrapped round me somewhat like this: the first an olde world style, and the next a trendier version.
My siblings say it is “not allowed/ nice/ practical/ polite/ ’done’ ” for a corpse to have her shoulders and legs bare … and toes sticking out … so I have said, in that case, wrap the sarong like a shroud. That should take care of both shoulders and toes 🙂 I could not find a picture to show this except this ‘sculpture’ – which my sister says won’t work either as I will have to die in a seating position! I suspect she is laughing, but you get the idea …
Then put me in the cheapest box you can find with no frills or fancy work – just straight chip board box …. and lay me down in the family grave.
That is how I would like to be buried.
Oh … I took for granted the Catholic rites but with more ‘upbeat’ hymns. I’ve been thinking that it would be nice to have a marching band with cymbals clanging and trumpets blowing. Or at least a whole lot of voices singing lustily and heartily something like Glory Glory Hallelujah – for my life’s hope is that I will be in the presence of my Creator, My Lord … Transcendent Almighty Triune God.
And I will be finally and totally ONE – “May all be one. As you, Father are in me and I in you” John 17:21
And that I believe is a moment for the greatest celebration of all.
Picture credits : 1worldsarongs.com; www.3dartistonline.com/