It was one of those gray, cloudy days. I'd gotten up the night before and suddenly thoughts started flooding through my mind.
What if the unthinkable happened and one of us or both of us met with a calamity and were gone? What would I or the kids do? Who would I call? How about the practical things like the cremation, burial, service?
We've been going to a number of funerals lately and realize what goes into them. Not easy. How do you cope with all those details and decisions when you're obviously going to be in anguish?
I started the ball rolling and created files on the computer and in my file cabinet. I chose photos so the kids could go through them easily and choose what they wanted from the selection. I've already scanned all our old photos so if they want more, they can access them easily.
I checked through several funeral homes and wrote down the phone numbers to the possible choices keeping in mind what kind of eating areas they have to accommodate people. In Hawaii we always serve a meal with a funeral so this is important.
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Art and I stipulated that our children are not to buy wreaths. They are a horrendous expense. They cost hundreds of dollars for a larger one and are used for display and then discarded. We would prefer they use the money for a donation to one of our charities.
One thing we want our children to do is provide a wonderful meal for everybody and make it a joyous occasion. Art and I have had wonderful lives together and are grateful to everybody who made it so. We want them to remember us happily. Art has said before that he doesn't care what we all did for his funeral since he wouldn't be there and wants us to do what would make us happy. However, he does now have one request. He doesn't want any somber music. He wants us to play John Lennon's, "Imagine."
What if the unthinkable happened and one of us or both of us met with a calamity and were gone? What would I or the kids do? Who would I call? How about the practical things like the cremation, burial, service?
I started the ball rolling and created files on the computer and in my file cabinet. I chose photos so the kids could go through them easily and choose what they wanted from the selection. I've already scanned all our old photos so if they want more, they can access them easily.
I checked through several funeral homes and wrote down the phone numbers to the possible choices keeping in mind what kind of eating areas they have to accommodate people. In Hawaii we always serve a meal with a funeral so this is important.
.jpg)
Art and I stipulated that our children are not to buy wreaths. They are a horrendous expense. They cost hundreds of dollars for a larger one and are used for display and then discarded. We would prefer they use the money for a donation to one of our charities.
One thing we want our children to do is provide a wonderful meal for everybody and make it a joyous occasion. Art and I have had wonderful lives together and are grateful to everybody who made it so. We want them to remember us happily. Art has said before that he doesn't care what we all did for his funeral since he wouldn't be there and wants us to do what would make us happy. However, he does now have one request. He doesn't want any somber music. He wants us to play John Lennon's, "Imagine."
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Me? Hmmm... maybe my nephews could perform something together. Wouldn't that be fun?
Tomorrow is forecasted to be a sunny day. I guess we can finish our planning another time.
