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aw, craps. i just found out that it's a catholic funeral, as in a *very* catholic funeral. i'll try not to hyperventilate, but i've been to a catholic mass for the dead once before under disturbing circumstances and it kind of freaks me out (the last time, i sat in the very back row, thinking that was a safe place, only to have the whole threshhold of the church with the coffin ceremony thing done right in front of me), and the more so when it's my grandfather. not to mention that i have to do a reading (the most non-cheery stuff that you can possibly imagine; something from Lamentations which is all like, "my heart is dried up and dead within me", and "the Lord has abandoned me." (It ends *slightly* more upbeat, but not much). at least worrying when to standup/sitdown and observing all the strange circumstances will keep me occupied enough not to go all waterworks.
my family is still kind of zoned out; not like a *surprising* event; my grandfather was 89; but it's just that he's *always* been in our lives. and we're all very loving; there's no bad blood or drama, just love and caring and dependability. since new year's, i've been helping out with things, and doing schoolwork in spare minutes while listening to asinine movies on tv (things like Miss Congeniality and the Wedding Date and Definitely, Maybe. yeah. i also re-alphabetized my cd collection last night).
oh YEAH! here's why I was posting: modern funerals. SUCK. what old-fashioned, manufactured ordeals, designed to RIP-OFF mourning people.
my grandparents are responsible, prepared people...they pre-arranged a lot of things; bought themselves a mausoleum-space, etc. You know how much one of those goes for now-a-days? Curious? about $7,000 each. Coffins? I have no idea, but probably some bazillion dollars. And I personally find the whole idea of a lead-lined coffin with fromaldehyde veins lying in a park which is a TOTAL waste of space and resources completely repellent. Although I would laugh if my tombstone said "See you at the Ressurrection, Motherfuckers" with just my name; I still don't really want anything; no kind of permanent marker or underground pen. just dust in the wind, baby. or the still-awesome viking ship pyre. i think that all this has motivated me to write up a will. after all, i'm turning 30 soon. OH YEAH; purpose of rant? The insane unforeseen fees that are ADDED ON, when everything is already "arranged." For example? $535.00 to OPEN and close the crypt the day of the funeral. $135 for a "coffin tray." I forget all the other crazy strange fees that have also been coming up, but it's such a lowdown racket, and I hate to see my grandmother cracking open her elderly checkbook every time some new fee is demanded.
I bet funerals and death arrangement will change a lot in the 50 years, I'm all for it.
Let's go out on a cheery note with some pretty pretty pictures.
( Read more... )
my family is still kind of zoned out; not like a *surprising* event; my grandfather was 89; but it's just that he's *always* been in our lives. and we're all very loving; there's no bad blood or drama, just love and caring and dependability. since new year's, i've been helping out with things, and doing schoolwork in spare minutes while listening to asinine movies on tv (things like Miss Congeniality and the Wedding Date and Definitely, Maybe. yeah. i also re-alphabetized my cd collection last night).
oh YEAH! here's why I was posting: modern funerals. SUCK. what old-fashioned, manufactured ordeals, designed to RIP-OFF mourning people.
my grandparents are responsible, prepared people...they pre-arranged a lot of things; bought themselves a mausoleum-space, etc. You know how much one of those goes for now-a-days? Curious? about $7,000 each. Coffins? I have no idea, but probably some bazillion dollars. And I personally find the whole idea of a lead-lined coffin with fromaldehyde veins lying in a park which is a TOTAL waste of space and resources completely repellent. Although I would laugh if my tombstone said "See you at the Ressurrection, Motherfuckers" with just my name; I still don't really want anything; no kind of permanent marker or underground pen. just dust in the wind, baby. or the still-awesome viking ship pyre. i think that all this has motivated me to write up a will. after all, i'm turning 30 soon. OH YEAH; purpose of rant? The insane unforeseen fees that are ADDED ON, when everything is already "arranged." For example? $535.00 to OPEN and close the crypt the day of the funeral. $135 for a "coffin tray." I forget all the other crazy strange fees that have also been coming up, but it's such a lowdown racket, and I hate to see my grandmother cracking open her elderly checkbook every time some new fee is demanded.
I bet funerals and death arrangement will change a lot in the 50 years, I'm all for it.
Let's go out on a cheery note with some pretty pretty pictures.
( Read more... )
