Anyhow, now that I am heading towards to the big four five, thoughts of not that I am going to die, but when I do die where am I going to be buried have been passing through my mind.
You see the problem is we're not affiliated to any church in our area. All the older churches, their church yards are all full up, so that leaves the cemeteries. Now there is a cemetery just down the road from where we live, but honestly its a glorified field, with a few sticks that are supposed to resemble trees (they are just baby trees), so that's no good, as you all know I don't like being in the sun. I need to be buried in a shady area so I won't get sun burnt.
Then there are those plastic Noma /Garden lights everywhere??? Who in their right mind wants to be buried near plastic Noma Lights.......do I look like a plastic Noma Light person....well heck no.
Then this cemetery is next to a busy road. Why on earth would I want to be buried next to a busy road, I am never going to get any rest with all that traffic.
So all this is posing a problem as to where I want to be buried. One thing I know for sure I don't want to be shipped back to England, as then no one will come to visit me. My dad reckons he wants his ashes shipped back to Britain and scattered in a river. I have made it perfectly clear I will not be carting his ashes over on a plane, so he has to persuade one of my brothers to do the honours.
Anyhow back to what the issue is, where am I going to be buried. So today (Sunday) we go for a drive out in the country and we stumble upon this church yard, and its lovely.
There is even a river opposite it, can it get any more perfect? I think not!!!
The only problem with all this.........we don't live in the area where this cemetery is..........maybe a move is in order!!! Imagine what the real estate agent would say if I said we wanted this sort of house, and that sort of house, oh and also it must be located near an attractive cemetery!!!
Seriously though figuring out where your final resting place will be is important.
25 comments:
Especilly with an aging parent, these thoughts do spring to mind. I have been so close to the pearly gates, in fact I already had a foot in the door three years ago but was rejected and sent me back. I never thought I'd rise to being a reject!
I love roses and lilacs and have an extensive rose garden and have alays informed my family to bury me in s shroud not a coffin and plant a hardy, scented rose at one end and a lilac bush at the other.
Unfortunetely in these (un)civilized times, that is not allowed. When I am gone, I do not want my nearest and dearest to feel obliged to visit and dutifully have to tend a grave. It's bad enenough them having to look after me in old age. Neither would I like to have a hoard intered above me. Nobody is going to keep me down that way. Both of us have elected to be cremated and I would like my ashes to be scattered in my garden which I created our of hard rocky ground.
My in-laws' ashes we mixed together and scattered in the park we planted, with a memorial bench each. No-one need feel obliged to weep over a grave, yet we remember as we watch the ducks or enjoy the trees. We do have the adventage of being 3 generations on one farm with the grandies not intending to ever permanently movie from here.
Good luck with your cogitations!
Sorry this got as long as your post.
Nice 'Mums in your flower post.
I have over two weeks until I hit that age, I was wondering if we were a similar age, as I think we think alike.
I have never really thought about where I would like to be buried. As far as I thought, I would be dead by then, so I figured it wouldn't affect me.
I would rather like to believe there is a place called heaven, and I'd go up there.
But coming to think of it, yes a beautiful sceanic place to rest,is definitely soothing for the mind, atleast for the present.
Halloween is over right? why are you scaring me? LOL
nice graveyard pics!
fortunately our graveyard is "reserved". i mean only the people of our family are buried there. it is small amid fields on the bank of a small lake!!!
but it is creeepy!!!!
As a non-believer I have no problems. A puff of smoke, a few ashes, and a nice little 'goodbye' from the rocks off Merewether. I sometimes sentimentalise about one little ash floating back to England, but the whole thing causes me no angst.
Bit like Arija, I had a run in with the pearly gates last year... and it made me think about this a great deal. Now I have 'faced up' to the inevitable ( which I am hoping maybe some time away now I am better) it holds no fears for me. We live near the most beautiful grave-yard in the world ( pictures later) and I want a plot next to my dad. I can get to his grave in less than five minutes!
We have the choice of being buried or having our ashes buried in a nice little urn in the hillside. Either way- I am quite happy!
As a Christian,I am hoping to be happily peeping down from heaven, checking to make sure there are fresh plants on my grave now and again....Well done on a thought provoking post!
Depressing, but yes, it's something that should be thought about - especially as I certainly don't want the kids burdened with these thoughts....thanks for the reminders!
Kris
oh my gosh...
topic is interesting...
i have a couple of options for myself...a lovely plot in Forest Lawn Glendale in California(where I grew up), a plot in Alice Church of God cemetary outside Conrad, Iowa where family(mother and father) are buried (mom passed first and dad thought she should be with her family in Iowa though we lived in California and when he passed away I buried him next to her in Iowa); or being cremated...which I think I am leaning toward more and more. As I have no family, no children, it seems the best way to go.
Hi Gill,
I'm sure you will figure it out!
I know we all have to prepare for these days , we are all guaranteed to die. As a Christian, death doesn't bother me. I know thats not your point, We have our last wishes made out .
Have a great day!
Blessins',Lib
It looks the sort of place I'd like my overcoat to spend some time in...wait a sec...looks very much like the family cemetary (Douglas Mill Cemetary) so we don't have that problem of deciding where...and I really don't want to think about when right now...but I love your choice and yes, a move may be in your future!
Sandi
ps
Gill, my word verification is notch believe it or not! I got a real word, lol
I've already told my husband to let them take whatever they can use for someone else and cremate the rest. I don't want my daughter to feel tied to a certain part of the country because something that used to be my shell is decomposing in a plot of dirt somewhere.
But if they feel the need to bury me, that's up to them. Whatever helps them get through the grieving as "easily" as possible.
Cremation and scatter my ashes on water -- that's my choice. Burial and funeral costs are so outrageous! There are a couple of beautiful old cemeteries in the city proper -- both of which have space.
I love cemeteries. I find them peaceful and interesting. Nevertheless, I want to be cremated and have my ashes spread in places I enjoyed visiting during my life. Especially near palm trees and beaches.
Great post about the ultimate ending to life. Perhaps it should provoke other thoughts-like how you'd want to be treated medically so that things aren't done if you don't want them. It's never too soon to have that conversation with your family.
Oh Gill, I think the idea of cremation and then being sprinkled somewhere isn't such a bad idea. :)
When I was a kid my dad scarred me for life by asking, "Hey, girls, wanna go see where I'm going to be buried?"
I bawled. Seriously... I thought he was going to die right away. It didn't help that he did that probably a year after my grandma died... yikes.
Nice cemetery pictures, though! We've got a pretty one like that in town, too, but it's not used anymore; it's where all the town founders and pioneers are buried.
I wanted to thank you all for your comments. It's interesting how you all feel about this subject and I respect all your views.
Gill
Hi Gill, yes, it is a true story...the young man in the photo is that man...my Uncle Martus Douglas...and this was told to us as long as I can remember...thanks for asking
Sandi
How about a 'sky' burial?
I've already told my family to cremate me. Then divide the ashe into little containers for who ever wants a few of the ashes, and do what ever with the rest of them. My Mother said not me, I want to be buried so people can put flowers on my grave. I said they can still put flowers around the container of ashes. I say cremate me and then have a party and celebrate. There's going to come a day when there will be no place to bury people.
Since my husband died in Sept. I had to buy plots. I bought mine right next to him and he is next to his dad. I just told the burial guys make sure he is next to his dad, then me , and some new neighbor on my other side! It's strange knowing I have the plot. I am waiting on some insurance money to get the memorial marker. My kids just said don't put your name on it yet, we'll have it sand blasted on after you go. It creeps them out to much to have my name on the gravestone, so I guess I will have to wait for that!
I hit the big 45 in a couple of years. my biggest worry is if I can afford for my family to bury me. whichever is cheapest is fine with me as I don't want my family (if I should go first ) to shoulder the cost. i doubt our pitiful insurance policy can help much.
This is so funny! I recently moved to Florida and have a cemetary plot back in NJ next to my parents! In a million years I never thought I'd move to Florida.
But I guess you never know do ya. I will just let those behind figure it out-is that mean?
Well, I am going on 46 in January and I can remember when I was a teen that anything past 40 was OLD. Funny thing is I don't feel old and currently when I think of turning 50 THAT seems old and I only have 4 years to go! I think I am going to look the other way when I drive past a cemetery. :)
My husband reminded me of the photos he took in Canada in Florence. He said there was a lovely cemetary there.
Can't comment much about burial place, as I plan to be cremated, but I have to say I really like the photos! The last one of the water is truly lovely, and the riverstone gate on the one above it is also very beautiful. Thanks for a thoughtful post, and for stopping by my blog.
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