Pages

Monday, April 4, 2016

Cremation, Cemeteries, and Cerberus

My theme for this year's A- Z Blogfest is DEATH (who I really hope is like DEATH in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series): "An obvious sort of fellow: tall, thin (skeletal, as a matter of fact), and ALWAYS SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Generally shows up when you're dead, or just when he thinks you ought to be." Today we have C for Cremation, Cemeteries, and Cerberus.

Cremation is another way of taking care of the dead, and one which many people embrace. My dad was cremated after he died and we took his ashes out to sea because that was one of his favorite places to be. I suppose I'll probably get cremated. Not sure if I want to end up in an urn. I mean, who would want to keep me sitting on their mantle?

If one chooses to be buried, one will end up in a Cemetery, six feet under as they say (and not to digress, but wasn't that the best show ever?!). On the other hand, if you think you're going to Hades, then guess who might greet you at the door? Yup, that would Cerberus, the dog with three heads that guards the gates.



Is cremation something you'd consider? Would you want to be scattered or sit in an urn somewhere? Imagine meeting Cerberus at the gates upon finding out you're dead. As if things couldn't get any worse...



 Excerpt from Mort, by Terry Pratchett, in which DEATH takes on an apprentice...

Lezek (Mort's father): He's a good lad at heart. A bit dreamy, that's all. I suppose we were all young once.

DEATH: NO. I DON'T THINK SO.

19 comments:

  1. My wife wants us to be cremated. I won't be here anymore, so doesn't matter to me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, I totally believe in cremation and want to be cremated. My dad, sister, and husband were cremated and I've spread their ashes around my house.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Okay, is it wrong I'm excited about your theme???!!! I'm with the two previous comments, but for some reason I don't like that word - cremation. There's something about the way it sounds and rolls off the tongue. Weird.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello, here from the A-Z and also from a culture that routinely cremates its dead so I will probably end up that way unless i remember to make my wishes in the matter known explicitly. I'd really prefer to recycle the organs, whatever's possible and the rest donate to the teaching hospital for students to practice on. There's a shortage of cadavers to learn on in my hometown because everyone prefers to hang on to their bodies and traditions even after death! Was that too graphic? Sorry if it was.

    Best,
    Nilanjana
    Madly-in-Verse

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think I would prefer to be cremated.

    And I've never seen Six Feet Under, but I have heard excellent things about it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout.... yup, I'll take cremation over six feet under every day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. As someone who loves history, I really appreciate walking around an old graveyard and reading the names and dates. BUT I would definitely want to be cremated. Can't stand the idea of bodies being interned in mausoleums like my grandparents did. It's just a warehouse of bodies in caskets. *shivers*

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have no preference. I won't be here so I don't care. My husband has told me he'd like to visit my grave if I go before him. Interesting post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cremated my dad and the stepkids cremated my dog!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cremation is a lot cheaper than burial.

    I'm trying to sort out my feelings about this, and I realize I don't really care. I won't be here. Them that have to make the decision should do what makes them happy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Eco-funeral for me. Where I can feed a tree.
    I have always found Cerberus fascinating, and love wandering round old cemeteries.

    ReplyDelete
  12. With my spouse's Jewish heritage, cremation isn't really appreciable. I like the idea of fertilizing a tree. ~grin~ Be well!

    For those who haven't found me, I can be found at Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
    I’m focusing on my music collection this month. And having fun. Hurray for that!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, cremated and and scattered. That's the idea. Of course, you don't have to be buried underground in a cemetery. My brother's best friend's mother's casket is in an above ground thing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I plan to be cremated. I want my family to donate rosebushes to the local public gardens and bury my ashes under the plants. I like the idea of being of use to the plants.
    Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, Marcy,

    Interesting theme! I definitely want to be cremated. Not sure where my ashes will wind up. Perhaps the cemetery my parents are buried in, a lovely place in NY... I was born and raised there, I should end up there, too...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Cremation is fine by me. I'll be dead, so doubt if I'll have a say or care. I do hope to haunt after I die. I have a long list of people who really need haunted.

    ReplyDelete
  17. oh, my, Marcy, you really pick cheerful topics :)

    ReplyDelete

If you're interested in my blog I'm interested in your comments.