is that a joke?
by D.O.
The weather has been extremely pleasant the past couple of weeks (save a couple of wet days), which has allowed me to do something I enjoy: ride my bike. I’m not exactly in riding distance to any trails, so I settle for using my bike a means of transportation to places like the grocery store and the book store.
The other day at the local Barnes (which is two stories tall, thank you) I picked up a delightful book, Freakonomics. I have since bought it and read about half of it. When I finish, you will be able to reap the benefit of that which you did not sow by reading my review of it right here at online diary for the masses. Today as I was reading, I came across a disturbing fact: the cost of coffins is way too expensive. The one pictured above is the cheapest one I could find on the internet, and it’s $1,000. (Most coffins are easily $3,000 and up).
This got me thinking: What better way to put on display how terribly we spend our money on this Earth than to end up with our carcasses lying in a $3,000 bed… underground? I can understand certain folks justifying such a purchase, for example, people who believe in reincarnation. However for people who claim to be Christians, and claim to believe that they’re going to have a bodily resurrection when the guy they claim to be their leader, Jesus, comes back — these people, the way my critical and opinionated eyes see it, have no business delving into such an investment.
I’ll admit, this is a pretty one-sided view of an issue that is irrelevant to most of us (because how many of us will be buying our own coffin?), but it got me thinking, and it was time for a new post, so this is what we get. Since this is my blog, and I’m allowed to be biased and share my opinion, let me tell you what I’d like to have done to my dead earthly body: donate everything that you can. If there is anything left, do whatever is cheapest, all while being jealous that I get to be in the presence of my Maker while you’re left to wait.
This isn’t meant to be a morbid post, just honest, real, and a little offbeat. Don’t cry.
Comments
D.O., i completely agree with you. I’m not even in my body anymore when I die…why waste that money for something so useless? Good post.
I want to be cremated.
Aaron says no way.
So, I’m spreading the word. That way, if I die, you can all make him cremate me.
I hate outside.
Sorry, D.O.
But I would rather be on display on a mantle in a climate controlled environment instead of in the dirt. Ick.
And…for those of you who know I know better than to care where I am after I die, because, again…I’m in heaven, really….
Well then I STILL want to be cremated because I don’t even want other people to have to go outside to visit my grave.
So…burn me up and put me in a pretty vase.
Here’s a thought: you can donate your body to science. That way, people like me get to learn cool things about how the body works and do things like take you brain out of your head and look at it. AND, when they’re done with your body, they cremate you and send the ashes back to your family FOR FREE. Yep, no cost.
Here’s another thought: there are people that make paintings out of ashes. You could be art!
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,55231,00.html
That’s an article about all kinds of things you can do with cremains. One guy made himself into a Frisbee.
Are you kidding me? Thomas and I just read Freakonomics. I’m going to try and write a post about it before you do.
Oh what a great book! And I felt the exact same weird feeling in my stomach when I read that part.
I think we should be put in the plywood coffins they used for soldiers in the WW’s. Hey, we could even go to Home Depot and make our own before hand, and then use it as a coffee table until it’s needed.
I’ll have to remember that.
yeah…that Revelation series…from 2003. I’m pretty smart, AND current. I corrected my error…thanks for the heads up. And you did it so politely!