Morbid questions
The second half of 2009 has seen my attendance at two funerals, the most recent being less than a week ago. They were difficult as these things are and I will miss my lost family members a lot.
These have led me to think on mortality and the inevitability of my own funeral. Without going into all of the other conundrums that this raised, the clearest question in my mind has been ‘who will attend my funeral’?
I have a very strong conviction that children are not a part of my future. There were so many children and grandchildren at these gatherings yet there will be none at mine.
Who will mourn me?
Do any of you think about these morbid things? Do you have any strong ideas about the central people at your funeral and who will truly miss your loss?
Tags: family, scary shit
November 16th, 2009 at 4:05 am
I think about stuff like that reasonably frequently. But I don’t find it morbid, I just see dying as another part of life.
I like my family to know that when I die I don’t want any religiousness in my ceremony because if they do they’ll be doing it for themselves, not for me.
I want them to know that any viable organs should be used to save other lives and that if it doesn’t creep them out too much I’m happy with my body being used for medical studies, if not it should be cremated. That I have this figured out gives me a sense of peace rather than a feeling of morbidity. :]
November 16th, 2009 at 4:11 am
I have been to my fair share of funerals in the last couple of years, and I thought the very same thing.
Lets hope we never know.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
@Ms Constantine – I have told my family all of this as well. In Australia we have the same system whereby even though I say that I want to donate my organs when I got a drivers licence, this isn’t enough if my family decide to contest it. So I went and put myself on the organ donors registry (which I have a shiny card for) and I also chatted with all of my family to let them know my wishes. They respect it which is lovely.
I am fairly sure they also understand how much of an Atheist I am and any religiosity would only be for themselves. I guess I won’t be there to complain!
I was more struck by the fact that because I am making the decision not to have children, I will be severely limiting my family breadth. I am from a HUGE family with many cousins and siblings and aunties and uncles so the sheer volume of people at the recent funerals has really hit home. It doesn’t bother me too much, I will still have friends and family, but none of them will have sprung from me. Adult decisions make me mull over the consequences
@Kelley – I am fairly hopeful that I will not be aware of the amount of people at my funeral! If I am, I will probably make myself known, maybe do a jig for their entertainment. I wonder what I will wear?
November 19th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I have thought about it before. I’m closest to my Mum and I don’t know if she could handle if I passed.. Likewise if she did. I can’t even comprehend. Losing someone I love is my BIGGEST FEAR
x
and you know it’s going to happen
November 19th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
It isn’t nice to think about, is it. My parents have lost a parent eash within the last few months, and not only has it hurt them deeply, it has also made my siblings and I really understand how important our parents are and that they won’t be around all the time.
Lots of hugs I say!