posted
A while back, I got to thinking about how folks dispose of their ashes following their cremation. Some prefer that they be scattered in some pristine location that they strongly identified with during their time on Earth. To me, that seems like a waste, and s bit of pollution to boot. So, should I opt for the cremation route, I thought that something a bit more "creative" might be done.....
Why not become a family heirloom ? Rather than have my ashes placed in the usual stock-standard urn, I think that possibly mine might better be used in an hourglass. Think about it! If one were to do the proper flow-rate calculations, a special hourglass could be pre-constructed to receive your ashes, and you could become your own Grandfather or Grandmother clock. Don't laugh...that hourglass could become a genuine work of art, if one were to do some glass etching and/or guilding to enhance it'd esthetics.
Alternatively, you could become a world traveller, if your ashes were placed into a permanently sealed bottle and pitched into the sea. Where and when you would show up would be at the whim of the tides and currents, but you might very well arrive at some destinations that you never ever dreamed of visiting in life. No telling how long or short your ashes might travel, but it would sure beat the hell out of sitting in some stagnant urn.
Just some thoughts on how I might like to see my Earthly remains get disposed of.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hunter Thompson had his remains blasted into the stratosphere and it seems I read that Keith Richards (or some other crazed rock star) snorted some of his dad's ashes.
I like the hourglass idea better.....
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have discussed with some of my signwriter friends the idea of having some of my ashes made into pouncebags...to be used on those special jobs, mind you....
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
| IP: Logged |
Personally, I don't care though. I won't be around for my cremation or funeral or wake. (I would hate missing the wake part though!!! LOL)
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
you missed a good point here...sell the ashes to be used as filler to epoxy or polyester resin on a nice sign....that way a person could go down in history and be in the sign business forever
posted
I did some work for a crematorium a while back, and asked them about cremating, and what is actually left...
The fellow there said most of the body is vapourised pretty-well immediately and goes up with the smoke- I mean you don't want any of the cooked meat returned to you, do you?. All that gets left is mainly the femur and pelvis-the biggest bones which aren't too burnable, which are then ground up into a powder and that is what is given back as so-called 'ashes'.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi folks. I wasn't sure how this post would be received, since many people seemingly find a discussion regarding their remains to be rupugnant or gross. I'd guess that such an attitude is indicative of a natural avoidance to confront what's essentially inevitable for us all.
I must admit that I never considered becoming a pounce bag, but that option does have some merit in that it serves a useful function.
Interesting contribution from Ian, as to exactly what those ashes are likley to consist of. Mine will probably have to be sifted, before going into an hourglass. Wouldn't want any larger bone fragments clogging up the neck of the hourglass and impeding the flow. If the time isn't exactly on, that can be easily attributed to the fact that I was quite often early, and occasionally late.
I once read an article where traditional internment is done differently at one cemetary in Japan where normal cemetary plots are at a premium because the real estate is too valuable. A hole is drilled and the body gets buried vertically, as opposed to horizontally. What's more, a "family plot" is a single hole and subsequent family members are interred one on top of each other, like a big underground totem pole. Rather different, but at least it does maximize the available acreage.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ya know it's not so much of what to done of your remains, but how not to put your family into a financial crisis having to pay for taking care of what left of you. Let's face it. We all want to be remembered long after we are gone. A place where our loved ones can gather and remember us. A monumnet to our contribution to society, a national treasure,,,, Donate your whole body to science. Give your family a break.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
At first I thought the hourglass idea had merit. But really, Who would want a remembrance of me that was rarely on time and when it did perform well would last only a couple of minutes.....
-------------------- Ron Costa Sign and Design 28 Ingerson Road Jefferson, NH 0358 Posts: 620 | From: New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
We, Shirl and I, have signed authorisation to use our bodies for medical reasearch.
Whatever is left over can be cremated.
Saves our families money and we won't really give a damn!!
I'll still be ****ed off that I miss my own wake though!!!! (I hate to miss a good party)
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Don't laugh...that hourglass could become a genuine work of art, if one were to do some glass etching and/or guilding to enhance it'd esthetics. 
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic