Friday, September 26, 2008

Slightly morbid?

But who cares if it is?  I've always been very interested in the culture of death.  That being cemeteries, funerals, headstones, last words, etc.

So I was intrigued when Anna sent me a link to this article about "green" and biodegradable coffins.  The Uono Coffin supposedly degrades within 10-15 years, which seems to make good sense.  I mean, I'm not really "using" it anymore by that point.  They're also suitable for cremation.  Plus, they look wicked Star Trek cool.

This wild shaped coffin is shaped like a chrysalis and looks like it's made out of paper mache.  The idea of a cocoon for your last journey is intriguing.  I wonder what the symbolism behind that is... in my next life I will be a butterfly.

Last, but not least, this Spirit Tree Urn is the one that most caught my attention.  I've preferred cremation to burial, for myself, for quite a long while now.  This is a biodegradable urn in which your ashes are interred.  A tree, or any plant you choose, is housed with your ashes and other goodies that will help it grow.  You plant the whole shebang and then poof - there's a tree where you used to be.

I think that is really beautiful and poetic.

How do you want to be "taken care of?"

5 comments:

Annapants! said...

I'm for the cremation myself; I still love the idea of being put into an pottery glaze! ;p

SuperDixieKitten said...

I'm for cremation. The tree idea you mentioned in your blog is exactly what I want. It gets rid of me but still gives my kids a place to go if they want to remember me.

My dad was cremated. I'm getting an urn for him that's meant to biodegrade at sea.

http://www.mainelyurns.com/4110ab6.html

kelly buck said...

Sam wants to be dumped in the Mariana Trench (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench), so I will oblige. I might even wait until he's dead! ;) I like the idea of the sea urn -- I was going to use a coffee can, but didn't like the idea of littering. I told Sam I would put a state of an archangel with a flaming sword in my garden in his memory. He *really* liked that idea. What I didn't tell him was that I was going to plant a bunch of pansies and petunias around it. Heh, heh...

Am still undecided about what to do with myself.

The dog, however, I have made up my mind about. He shall be a diamond ( http://www.cremationsolutions.com/6/Cremation-Diamonds-Made-From-Ashes--c39.html).

And no, I am not joking.

Jariris said...

Kelly - I love your ideas! Especially for the dog.

And I laughed out loud about waiting until Sam's dead to send him off to Davy Jones'.

*snicker*

kelly buck said...

Thanks! The real bonus is that sam doesn't exactly know where the trench is, so I can totally sneak up on him. =D I'm rotten, but at least I no longer fantasize about shoving him down the steps! Ahhh... making progress with the marital bliss (only took 7 years!).