When I die, I want one of two things to happen to my corpse.
Number one, and the one I want the most, is to be left out for scavengers. I don’t know why, but ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to be left out to scavengers when I die and what’s left of me to be picked up and buried. I’m not sure my family and loved one’s stand for it, but it’s my wish.
Barring that, I want to be cremated and my ashes spread in a clearing in a national forest somewhere. Lots of pine trees, preferably. I’ve always loved that kind of setting and I think it’d be a fitting place for my ashes when I die.
I want to be buried, in a nice looking suit (which will probably be the only time I’m ever in a nice suit), with a towel. And I want my gravestone to say:
“Ran over by a tractor-trailer truck driven by the Incredible Hulk”
Seriously. If I happen to die and any of you guys hear about it please direct my family to this post.
I’ve always wanted to be shot out into space, in a sealed container.
Without:
Being enbalmed,
Having my guts vacuumed out,
Having some $2 an hour hairdresser trying to get my hair to look right
Some pervert playing with my dead naked body in the back room of some cold funeral parlor.
This way, the worms can’t eat me. And I can just float throughout the universe, going where no corpse has been before.
And if I’m really lucky, some advanced civilization on the other side of the galaxy will find me, and have the knowlege required to reanimate me.
And I will tell them of our superior culture and ways. And I will impress them so much, I’ll have my own talk show, or reality program. And I will make millions of quantrims, and I will live forever…
Oh, never mind, just save me a spot next to Ted Williams
Good question! I have always felt very stringly about this.
Most important thing. I DO NOT want to be embalmed.
I don’t want a coffin. I want to just be thrown into a 6-foot-deep hole and left to decompose so my body can become one with the earth again. Next best thing to reincarnation.
If I must get buried in a coffin, it should be a simple pine box. Must be able to decompose easily and allow for my body to be reconsumed into the earth.
To me, the earth is my “god” and being reabsorbed into the earth is the same thing as the concept of “going home to god” or “going to heaven.” Being embalmed and put into a coffin does not allow me to achieve this. And having my blood sucked out of me and disposed of is just plain wrong. That is a part of my body too and it crucial for proper decomposition.
This brings up a question I have been thinking about for a long time. Will I be able to get my wish? Is it legal for me to be buried this way? If it is my religious belief, shouldn’t I be able to do this?
I think it is disgusting how they embalm bodies, then put them into a air and water-tight, non-biodegradeable coffin, so in 50 or 100 years, you’re basically a mummy.
cremated. if possible, in the firepit behind my house. whatever it takes to spare my loved ones the expense of my funeral. never did understand the thousands that some people spent.
then, i’d like the ashes saved until my beloved wife passes on, and then we’ll have the ashes interred together at the base of a tree planted for us.
I don’t have a cite for this, and I’m too lazy to look, but it’s my understanding that pine boxes actually don’t disintegrate nearly as quickly as people think. My grandfather, who was involved in moving some old cemeteries in the mid 20th century confirmed this. They actually hold together quite well.
For me (Druid), cremation is not only my preference, but a religious obligation. MY big regret is that it’ll be done in some crematorium instead of outside on a big pile o’ sticks. Somebody should start a service for that, if it was legal. I bet it’d make money.
There is a place in the northwestern area of South Carolina. A guy has bought a couple hundred acres of wilderness and converted it to a wildlife refuge. But the real purpose of the area is as a natural burial ground. No embalming is allowed. Coffins (if used) must be plain boxes made out of native wood. Flowers must be native as well. You are allowed to choose a place for your burial and if it is near a native rock, you may have a small message engraved on it. No other graves stones are allowed.
I’ll look for the website, this guy gave a lecture at our med school last year.
Well, my dad always said he wanted to be frozen, have one end sharpened and then pounded into the ground (where did he get this, I wonder?). Alas, he’s in a pretty maple box on a shelf in Mom’s living room. She pats him and talks to him every so often, so I think his memory of the future would be okay with that.
Me, I want to be cremated-- no embalming-- and my ashes planted somewhere lovely. I don’t know where that is yet, so I can’t die. Maybe if I procrastinate long enough I’ll acheive that immortality WillSantini is going for!
I also have this inexplicable urge to say “Gotchaya!”
Anything of use should be taken and used.
The remnants can go to a medical school if they want. Take my skeleton. Whatever they want.
The rest, if there is any, can be burned and scattered at sea.
Yep, that’s me - trying to be a useful as I can, not wanting to be a bother.
if i get the exotic death i want (eaten by wild african lions) then the corpse isnt really an issue.
if i dont then remove all useful organs and stuff me. if my partner survives me then i intend to be placed sitting in a chair in the bedroom so i can put him off having any girlfirends after im dead. or at least get a good view to watch the hot old age action.
