[LadyX]

Thanks for your thoughtful post, Dubya.
In this day of scattered and thinning families, and having led a nomadic life far away from my childhood places, my plans have long ago been made.

My parents (gone many years) are in a cemetery in Orlando, Florida - a sister, in one in Hartsville, SC and the other (living) will be in Summerton, SC. Both my sons are in South Florida, and my daughter upstate in SC.

Working in and around medicine for 19 years, I long ago decided to benefit medical students by body donation to The Medical College of Georgia, 45 miles away.

I genuinely believe as Paul did - the body is merely an imperfect and convenient conveyor for the soul, and loses its importance when its last breath is drawn.

I made legal arrangements with MCG for this, and gave copies to every physician I have had. When I presented one to the Director of MCG Outpatient Endocrinology, she hugged me with tears in her eyes, saying, "You have no idea how much that touches me, spending countless hours at the morgue on Long Island as a medical student, studying the effects of aging, disease, accidents, etc., upon the human body - things that are not apparent in a still photograph in a textbook."

Next to my driver's license in my wallet is a card from MCG giving a number to call if I expire away from home or not in a hospital.
MCG will send a vehicle to transport my remains; no casket or funeral hone required.

My older son is a Physician Assistant, able to appreciate the value of this, and the other son and daughter do as well. Rather than a funeral, it is my wish they and my grandchildren gather with my husband and remember all the good times we have had, the wonderful things experienced together, and rejoice over the constancy of God in our lives.

My family shares my belief "I" need not be in a hole in the ground, and will be living with Our Father - and in their memories wherever they might be.

[LadyX]

"funeral hone"

What good is Spell Check if it can't read your mind?!!

[Darksheare]

I won't say the weird, and possibly demented, method of 'burial' I semi-jokingly 'decided' upon.
(It's contingent upon certain factors actually, otherwise it's a normal burial.)

[Dubya]

Its a wonderful thing you are doing. God bless you.

[Lakeside]

Hi, Lady! What a wonderful idea and it just seem "to fit" what I've been considering. We, too, have lived a nomadic life so no place is really home. Our sons are in the Navy so who knows where they will be?

I've never been quite comfortable with the traditional funerals not to mention the cost burden on the survivors.

We also believe, "absent from the body, present with the Lord" so a hole in the ground is optional and not really necessary.

Where is The Medical College of Georgia and how does one make those arrangements? Research on my affliction is really lagging behind most other more notable diseases and I would be happy knowing that this small contribution may help find a cure so others may benefit.

I've missed all you guys at the Finest....I've been a bit under the weather. Believe me, your letter thief would have had a heyday with me this last week!