I wonder if people are going to remember the person or the pyramid more....
If you have ever visited a Parisian cimetery (where people are arrogant even in death) you would know the answer : the pyramid
If I should die.... think only this of me:
- Thread starter Zulu Romeo
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If you have ever visited a Parisian cimetery (where people are arrogant even in death) you would know the answer : the pyramid
Most of the passers by won't know her though. To them it'll just be a random pyramid that blares out intrusive music every day for no apparent reason.
She'll need some sort of a sign at least, explaining the situation.
wikipedia
Well, I'd probably ought to answer my own questions, really, having read a whole lot of other insightful answers from a lot of good people. 
I'll answer the three parts in reverse order, as I think that makes the most sense to me.
Man, these questions are difficult. I can be too tough on myself sometimes...
Me, firstly, I don't know if I'm ready to die yet. I've done a lot in my life, almost all of which I'm proud of, but of late things have stagnated, so I wouldn't miss much if I wasn't around later. Some things might just not be meant to be, while other things are things which I could have sought after (if not already achieved) but I'm happy in that if the inevitable were to happen tomorrow, I wouldn't exactly be kicking and screaming.
I'd like to think I'd be remembered as someone who tried to make a difference, even though there have been many times where this had clearly not happened, or made things even worse. I'd like to think I made some people happy, or at least mildly tickled, although I'd be very happy if I made a difference to just one person in the whole world... any one person, really. And I hoped that others might feel the same way, that I might have brought some form of joy into their lives, and may well remember me for all that.... and of course the less desirable elements that come with it.
As to how people might mourn me, I don't really know, but I do know that I probably couldn't afford anything grand or fancy. People can mourn me how they want to mourn me, in whatever way they choose to, be it a service or a prayer session or a tribute thread online or a simple stone marker by whatever grave I end up in. I won't ask for people to hold back tears or sorrow, as these are inevitable whenever anyone dies and cannot be helped. I certainly won't specify that this be a joyous, hedonistic, jolly celebration of my life, but if that's what people want, then so be it, and I wouldn't hold that against them.
However, if anyone does want to organise a service, I would suggest that the following two songs be played:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YE933b67Vc[/yt]
One of the most evocative instrumental pieces ever. It should hopefully remind people of all that good stuff that happened between my birth and my death.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4aP2iKa16g[/yt]
Probably my favourite of his songs, and it's a reminder that everything in existence has exactly one thing in common - whether it's jobs, status, power, family, possessions, assets, friendships, memories, sorrow, anger, hatred, petulance, darkness, evil, sadness, pain, anguish, happiness, joy, pleasure, compassion, love... even human life... everything has to end.
And that is actually a reassuring thought.
I'll answer the three parts in reverse order, as I think that makes the most sense to me.Man, these questions are difficult. I can be too tough on myself sometimes...
Me, firstly, I don't know if I'm ready to die yet. I've done a lot in my life, almost all of which I'm proud of, but of late things have stagnated, so I wouldn't miss much if I wasn't around later. Some things might just not be meant to be, while other things are things which I could have sought after (if not already achieved) but I'm happy in that if the inevitable were to happen tomorrow, I wouldn't exactly be kicking and screaming.
I'd like to think I'd be remembered as someone who tried to make a difference, even though there have been many times where this had clearly not happened, or made things even worse. I'd like to think I made some people happy, or at least mildly tickled, although I'd be very happy if I made a difference to just one person in the whole world... any one person, really. And I hoped that others might feel the same way, that I might have brought some form of joy into their lives, and may well remember me for all that.... and of course the less desirable elements that come with it.
As to how people might mourn me, I don't really know, but I do know that I probably couldn't afford anything grand or fancy. People can mourn me how they want to mourn me, in whatever way they choose to, be it a service or a prayer session or a tribute thread online or a simple stone marker by whatever grave I end up in. I won't ask for people to hold back tears or sorrow, as these are inevitable whenever anyone dies and cannot be helped. I certainly won't specify that this be a joyous, hedonistic, jolly celebration of my life, but if that's what people want, then so be it, and I wouldn't hold that against them.
However, if anyone does want to organise a service, I would suggest that the following two songs be played:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YE933b67Vc[/yt]
One of the most evocative instrumental pieces ever. It should hopefully remind people of all that good stuff that happened between my birth and my death.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4aP2iKa16g[/yt]
Probably my favourite of his songs, and it's a reminder that everything in existence has exactly one thing in common - whether it's jobs, status, power, family, possessions, assets, friendships, memories, sorrow, anger, hatred, petulance, darkness, evil, sadness, pain, anguish, happiness, joy, pleasure, compassion, love... even human life... everything has to end.
And that is actually a reassuring thought.
If someone decides to conduct a service for me I would hope that they would play Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life at the end of it.
All I can really ask for in terms of remembrance, and I think I'd get it, is that my friends tell their kids how awesome "Auntie" was. As far as disposition of my earthly vessel, I'm an organ donor, so that should take care of some parts, and the rest can go to research or (if there's nothing worthwhile left) cremation. I'd like to be scattered somewhere tropical, with maybe a little bit shot into space. If my family wants a religious service, I'm not against that, but I want a party for my friends afterward so they can look at photos and share stories of the dumb things we did together. And they should probably play the music that people connect with me, Beatles, Beach Boys and Taylor Hicks. I would not want to die today, though. There are a few things I have to do first, and weirdly enough, top on my list right now is giving a dinosaur hoodie I crocheted to my nephew. I'd hate to miss seeing him wear it and growl like a dinosaur!
Well, since I plan to live forever, this is not a worry.
Hey, don't look at me that way, you said not to say it, so I took that as an excuse to say it.
And, given that I am the only one of my little group of friends who does not drink or smoke, it's quite likely that I will outlive them.
However, once I am dead, I would like to be stuffed and mounted naked in my favorite recliner, and have the recliner mounted on the roof of my house. In this way I hope to offend as many passersby as possible.
Hey, don't look at me that way, you said not to say it, so I took that as an excuse to say it.
And, given that I am the only one of my little group of friends who does not drink or smoke, it's quite likely that I will outlive them.
However, once I am dead, I would like to be stuffed and mounted naked in my favorite recliner, and have the recliner mounted on the roof of my house. In this way I hope to offend as many passersby as possible.
I think my funeral would be small-ish. I'm not sure how many would want to attend. I'd like to think that I've had a positive effect on people. I'm told that, so it'd be kinda nice if a few showed up.
I'd like a few stories that are typical me to be told, like at Dad's funeral. The rabbi personalized it, having asked me and my siblings for some "typical Dad" stories, but used only mine. Cause they were the ones that best described Dad. He and I were close, so close that Hubby says that when Dad died, a part of me died, and my health problems started at that time. Maybe.
Dad had a real simple (kosher) casket, sanded pine. I'd like that. And a rose. Just one. Nothing else is needed.
If there's nothing afterwards, then that's it. If there is, Dad is waiting there for me, so everything is okay.
Damn! I miss him. Gotta go dry my eyes.
I'd like a few stories that are typical me to be told, like at Dad's funeral. The rabbi personalized it, having asked me and my siblings for some "typical Dad" stories, but used only mine. Cause they were the ones that best described Dad. He and I were close, so close that Hubby says that when Dad died, a part of me died, and my health problems started at that time. Maybe.
Dad had a real simple (kosher) casket, sanded pine. I'd like that. And a rose. Just one. Nothing else is needed.
If there's nothing afterwards, then that's it. If there is, Dad is waiting there for me, so everything is okay.
Damn! I miss him. Gotta go dry my eyes.
I want a play list of my favorite songs played at my funeral. Let it Be, Stand By Me, and the like.
I was at a funeral on Friday and decided, on the whole, not to take our jack russell because although she's black and therefore the correct colour, the graveside ceremony might be undermined by a pink squeaky ball being dropped into the hole.
I wonder if people are going to remember the person or the pyramid more....
If you have ever visited a Parisian cimetery (where people are arrogant even in death) you would know the answer : the pyramid
In a way, this is my intention. The pyramid is not meant to remind people of me, but is meant to preserve (within human culture) the spirit which animates me.
It would appear as arrogance only to those who do not understand the pyramid. It would in fact be a selfless gift, like a work of art, that is intended as a compass, to guide humanity forward in the right direction. It just has a little of my personality woven into its design.
Before i answer the question i have to say the tags for this thread are hilarious!
OK. Like Mari, I'm an organ donor, so hopefully they'll take everything that is still usable and give life or sight to someone who needs whatever i've got to give.
After that, i'd like my remains cremated (preferably in a Viking ceremony, sent out onto the water in a small boat and then lit afire), all the while the Star Trek theme is blasted.
If i can't be sent off that way I'll be pretty pissed off.
OK. Like Mari, I'm an organ donor, so hopefully they'll take everything that is still usable and give life or sight to someone who needs whatever i've got to give.
After that, i'd like my remains cremated (preferably in a Viking ceremony, sent out onto the water in a small boat and then lit afire), all the while the Star Trek theme is blasted.
If i can't be sent off that way I'll be pretty pissed off.
I guess if people won't spontaneously build a gravity-defying mausoleum for my everlasting memory, I wasn't good enough to become Emperor of Mankind and therefore best forgotten.
Oh. Just realized i didn't answer part of the question. I'm not ready to die yet. Not that i have huge unfulfilled plans yet. I do want to see more of the west, particularly the mountains.
I have a few small regrets, and a couple of big ones. And I really wish i had followed up on some of my early career plans.
But I've done a lot in my life, including traveling and living outside the box somewhat... which was cool. I've got two awesome kids that i live for. There are some things i'd love to do right now, but probably never will get to do and that's extremely frustrating right now.
But no, I'm not quite ready to go yet.
EDIT: 3 years ago i went to the ER with a pain in my abdomen that got increasingly worse over the weekend. I thought it might be my appendix, so i finally said, "I gotta go to the hospital".
OK, so they do tests, scans, exams. It's now midnight and i tell the husband to go home because our daughter is there alone. He goes. The docs make me drink something and then at 3 am they have me do a CAT scan. They can't find what's causing the pain but the do find something else. At 5 am the idiot ER doctor comes into the cubicle where i am and says, "We can't find what the cause of your pain is, but we found a mass on your kidney. See your doctor about it."
I'm like, "Did he just tell me i have cancer?" Call the husband hysterical crying, he comes and gets me and for the next week until i can get in to see a specialist I'm freaking out.
Once i saw the specialist and we had kidney surgery set up i was no longer freaking out. I was ready for whatever came. The year before we had been through a living hell and i realized that this was small potatoes compared to that. So, i was OK with whatever happened, even if it was death.
Heh, i just remembered all that.
I have a few small regrets, and a couple of big ones. And I really wish i had followed up on some of my early career plans.
But I've done a lot in my life, including traveling and living outside the box somewhat... which was cool. I've got two awesome kids that i live for. There are some things i'd love to do right now, but probably never will get to do and that's extremely frustrating right now.
But no, I'm not quite ready to go yet.
EDIT: 3 years ago i went to the ER with a pain in my abdomen that got increasingly worse over the weekend. I thought it might be my appendix, so i finally said, "I gotta go to the hospital".
OK, so they do tests, scans, exams. It's now midnight and i tell the husband to go home because our daughter is there alone. He goes. The docs make me drink something and then at 3 am they have me do a CAT scan. They can't find what's causing the pain but the do find something else. At 5 am the idiot ER doctor comes into the cubicle where i am and says, "We can't find what the cause of your pain is, but we found a mass on your kidney. See your doctor about it."
I'm like, "Did he just tell me i have cancer?" Call the husband hysterical crying, he comes and gets me and for the next week until i can get in to see a specialist I'm freaking out.
Once i saw the specialist and we had kidney surgery set up i was no longer freaking out. I was ready for whatever came. The year before we had been through a living hell and i realized that this was small potatoes compared to that. So, i was OK with whatever happened, even if it was death.
Heh, i just remembered all that.
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I changed my mind. I want my corpse to be impaled on top of a larger-than-life reproduction of the Eiffel Tower, then I want the whole thing set on fire while raving mourners dance to Gigi D'Agostino, Lady Gaga, Chamillionaire, Billy Idol, and Vanilla Ice.
Having Gigi D'Agostino played at your funeral is a fate worse than death itself.
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