BACK TO THE EARTH...by b. Malin

And when I die...and when I'm dead...I want to go into the ground...ECO-BOUND. I got this idea after reading an article on this subject in one of our local papers. Now I'd like to share the idea and my point of view, with all of you. Death is not Funny, but there is some Humor afterwards...

Lover Man and I have discussed at length what to do upon Death. He (without batting an eye) has chosen CREMATION...And to be honest with all of you, I can go along with that for myself as well. That is until I read the article, on Going... Literally, "Going Green" upon death.

Now in a way, my Sister, Brother, and I, when my Father died so many, many, years ago, kinda went "Green"...I shall explain. Our Father didn't believe in planning "ahead". In translation, after FOUR Wives... Mother was number 2, he had no "Plot", and was NOT on speaking terms with his Brothers. So, taking matters into our own "young" hands, we buried him "Orthodox Style". What is that? you say. Allow me to explain...The Orthodox Jews bury the men in "Shrouds" which is literally, a clean white sheet in a plain wooden box. For a few extra dollars, you could have a "Sitter" who sits with your loved one through the night. The next day is the funeral. My Father would have been THRILLED, for this was the most Reasonable Cost...Father was Cheap, and I say that with Love, because He always said that He was. However, with Wife number 4, they had a "Decorator" for their Apartment, a Boat, and a Country Club Membership. But she claimed there was very little money set aside for a Funeral. So even though my Father was NOT ORTHODOX...That's how he got buried. Today, this would be considered an"Eco-Friendly" Funeral. I wonder what Father would have thought, personally, I think he would have liked the idea.

Now back to the present...There is a "Back to the Earth" movement, that is really growing in numbers and they want to bring back the "Natural Funeral" which dates back to the early 20th century, when the majority of Americans died at home, in the company of their families...They then were carried to the "Family Plot". It does sound "Heart Warming" in a way. Everyone pitching in, helping with the washing, dressing. The burial box sat in the home...But sometimes they just wrapped their Loved Ones in a Sheet, and back to the Earth they went! A lot of Funeral Homes and doing more and more "Green Burials" as are Cemeteries, that are actually adding "Green Sections". Family members and friends get to participate...by carry the body or the box to a hand-dug grave, and putting their loved one in...And again most are buried in "Shrouds" not Coffins.

Ok, I thought, this is for Me and Lover Man, so out to the back yard I ran to read him the article. He was grilling Chicken and had just closed the cover on it. "That I said, could be You and Me, just burning up when we die". He smiled in my direction, "got a better idea"? "As a matter of fact I do." I replied, "let me read you this article on "Eco-Friendly Burials". "So, I said, when I was done, "think of the possibilities...if we both died at 110, a day apart...we could be wrapped together, Forever by our Loving, Old Children, Grandchildren, and Great, Great, (Oh what the heck) Great Grandchildren". "Ok, he laughed, you win, as long as I get to be on TOP"!