If not, full body donation through the state anatomy board. Once they’ve done all the research they can cremated remains can be returned to one’s family.
[okay, I should probably call this post Two Truths and a Lie]
Not really going to do the fireworks but it’s an actual real thing people do. I have my husband’s ashes in a wooden box. When my time comes, and after the donation/research I intend for the two of us to be scattered together in a Scattering Garden, a feature that some cemeteries are starting to incorporate. There are some members of my family who are invested in having a place to visit. Many of these gardens include a memorial wall where a brass plaque with the name and dates can be included. And I’m going to prearrange and prepay for it and write all the information down and put it in the folder in the front of the filing cabinet with “Read This When I Die” on the tab.
Since I’ve traveled to over 120 countries, I’d like for a spoonful of my ashes to be returned to each of them. My wife has suggested that she could place a small quantity in each of 120 envelopes and send them to fictitious addresses in each country, without return address, with the assumption they would find their way to the dead letter office, and ultimately, reach a place of repose in each country. To avoid a lot of unnecessary terrorist treat responses, they could be enclosed in tiny sealed packets labeled for contents and intent.
Truthfully, I wouldn’t mind a service. But I don’t want it to be sad and mournful. Have my friends and loved ones get together at my favorite sports bar for a burger and a beer, and tell stories about funny things I did.
Whatever works best for my survivors, with only one cast-iron request/condition: Absolutely NO involvement, in any way, shape, or form, with the Roman Catholic Church, which I profoundly hate. Given my current family and friends, it would be very unlikely anyway, but just in case.