Posted on 03/29/2018 10:43:25 PM PDT by wheresmyusa
I know this might turn into an uncomfortable thread. First off, i'm in my mid-40's. I don't even really know why i'm posting this. However, i have this "pull" to construct my final resting accommodations. OK, let me flash forward a little bit...
I loved my grandfather dearly. He was a man of very few words, and a lot of hard work; he was a sharecropper. I was always in awe of him. When i was a very young man, 7-ish, he started to teach me woodworking. He taught me; he made things with his hands with me. He showed me the beauty of crafting.
Now, i am not old, but i'm halfway there if i'm lucky. I remember how crushed i was that his tools (and they were all hand tools) had just gone and faded away, and became lost somehow. Just one would satisfy me.
And then it hit me.
Why should i buy a box for myself when i can make it myself. I can do this better than anyone else. He taught me.
Flash-forward. (Before my epiphany...)
I had a conversation with my father...who i obviously love dearly. I had a moment where i was absolutely truthful. I told him, if i knew the end was coming, that i would buy a vessel and sail it into the biggest storm i could plan for; Lt. Dan style.
Want to think about me? The ocean is the best gravestone, and one needs to only go there to be with me.
My fathers reaction was excoriating. He blasted me so hard for my selfishness. How dare i, in all of my ego; deprive those who loved me a place to grieve. That was striking.
I began to think on the subject. Who better than i, to have a say in what fashion i'll be laid to rest? Why not take what i've been given, and put it all to good use? I'm not a woodworker or carpenter; but i have the skills.
Is it a morbid concept, in your opinion, to build your own box?
My Late Father would never tell me what he wanted when he died, Burial or Cremation. He always joked that the “Authorities’ would just find his dead body and take care of it so he didn’t stink up the place.
My Mother was Cremated and her Ashes were spread in the Pacific Ocean off Dana Point as she wished.
One day I’m driving down PCH with my Dad on our way to eat. He looks at the Ocean and says, someday I’ll be out there with (my Mother) Ginny.
The decision was made without me even having to ask.
Ironically, what you stated is what pulls me toward this course of action. All the inspections, and design requirements, and laws and regulations...makes me want to do it more.
It’s been done; why can’t i? =)
~W
“Do you think your choice will affect your loved ones?”
Not really. My dad’s got one in the grave and one on a banana peel. Moms already gone. My brother feels the same as me. My sister is agnostic and up where she lives they just dump people in the dump (cremated).
I have no kids so there is that. If my sometimes gf is around, well then she can do whatever...I’ll be on a higher plane than this one.
People who go through the ‘cadillac’ casket and all the fancy headstones are deeply disturbed. IMO
Shit won’t matter once your dead.
A really good decision, mine too, only the East Coast! :)
Your dad, sounds a whole lot like mine. He just wants a place for us to go to when its done. God bless.
~W
But once you make one, you could always use it as a coffee table, bring it out for Halloween, stand it up and put shelves in it for books, dinnerware, line it with plastic and use it for a beer cooler, etc.
Death ain’t morbid, its a part of life. So live life to the fullest, you’ll be dead soon enough.
This post made my eyes a little blurry.
Avert your eyes please.
~W
I like your style.
~W
I neglected to answer your question.
Build it and they will come.
Goodnight my FRiend.
There’s a lot to be said about spreading the ashes on the ocean. Lots of good people been laid to rest out there in this old world. I don’t believe we will land and start visiting with the other folks near us but it makes for a good time thought. I thought about my ashes being spread on our little old six acres who could stop anyone. But the homestead might not stay in the family and my wife said there’s horse sh&)t everywhere. I was in trouble immediately when I asked so what’s your point? Peace comes from faith for me and I can live with that.
Looks like a good and considerate way to do it and not morbid at all.
Many thanks for all of the replies; and for the comical keyword additions. ;) Sorry if you don’t get it.
I know this posted late so i’ll just leave this here for the night. Thanks again; it might be just a vanity, but it helped me and that’s all that counts. X)
FReegards,
~W
I wonder what Elon’s plan is.
Hopefully, a better orbit than Starman’s.
FWIW, Costco sells ‘em.
Wow, I couldn’t even get through that first sentence before I opted out of this discussion.
Duly noted. Thanks for not participating, even though you felt the need to post anyway.
~W
I agree with your thinking. I made a Walnut box for my mother’s cremated remains. The wood and plans are in my shop for my father’s box which will likely be made in the next year. I will follow it with one for me and one for my wife.
Just cremate me, put the ashes in a brown paper bag and dump me in the Pacific. Carlsbad or Monterey California.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.