Dateline: 12 December 2014
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Well, we’ve gone and done it. Marlene and I have bought more land. It's nice grass land. We found out that the land was for sale, and heard that the price would be going up quite a bit after the first of the year, so we bought eight lots.
They aren’t building lots. They are burial lots. I suppose they are more commonly referred to as “plots.”
Our final resting places will be side by side in the southwest corner of Kelloggsville Rural Cemetery. It’s a nice little cemetery, on the other side of the field across from our house. Our children will be able to stand by our plots as we are lowered into the ground, and see the little homestead where they grew up.
We once knew many of the people who are already buried in the cemetery. They were our friends and neighbors. Our lives intersected with them in various ways, and memories come to us when we look upon their headstones. Maybe someday I’ll introduce you to some of them.
I feel very good now that this responsibility has been taken care of. The next thing will be to pick out a grave stone and figure out what to put on it. That will require some thought. There is no hurry, but I do want to have this done too. I am, after all, pushing 57 years old. My time is running out.
I only need one plot, of course, and Marlene only needs one plot. The other six are for our children and their wives, or whoever in the family may need them, when their time comes. I hope and pray that Marlene and I do not live to see any of those other six plots taken. They are for after we are gone.
Have you procured your own final resting place? It’s something to think about.
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Today's blog post reminds me of an excellent (agrarian) short story by Leo Tolstoy titled, How Much Land Does a Man Need? If you have never read any Tolstoy, this story is a good place to start. It is much shorter, and less complicated than War and Peace.
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8 comments:
You are doing a really great thing for your family by taking care of the details of your burial prior to your passing.
When my grandfather passed years ago, he had every detail of his funeral planned out from what to do with the his wedding ring, to being buried in his ugly brown suit with the electric blue tie which did not match anything (but he thought he looked so handsome in that outfit).
To find out we did not have to "do anything" but grieve and heal was one tremendous blessing to us
Dan
In these emotional times it is a good thing for those remaining to have these plans made.
Mom and Dad had their stone in place however they did not have Mother's burial decided. When it came first emotions played a big part in the choices. Dad planned his afterward cause he "didn't want all your money going in the ground" This is a fine and thoughtful move on you and your wive's part.
I lost my Mom last August, she was 91 years old. My siblings and I planned and paid for Mom's funeral a few years before. How good it was not to have to deal with the pressures of planning and paying for Mom's funeral when we were mourning her passing.
My Wife and I, purchased four lots in the cemetery near the farm and town where she grew up. We paid fifty dollars for the lots, almost forty years ago.
I tell her now, that when my time comes, I would be happy to be cremated. Dump my ashes in the back of my old pickup. Drive into the Ozarks where we have retired. Then drop the tailgate and drive around until I'm gone.
I like the idea of this old shell fertilizing the trees and wild flowers until our Lord comes back for his redeemed.
On "how much land does a man nead" perhaps you've hard of Harold Godwinson's reply to Harald Hardraada's question "How much of England will you give me?". The reply was "Six feet, because you are bigger than other men."
First, Thank you for the link to
"How much land does a man need" I enjoyed it.
I too have been trying to prepare for my "Final Needs" and it has not been easy. Every time I get ready, with money in hand, something always happens. Well, this time, before I have a chance to even talk to my children, I'm heading to the Funeral home and get this business started once and for all.
I lost my darling husband last year and I can tell you, I was so destroyed by my loss, that to this day, I don't remember a thing that happened for over 9 months, and I'm just now beginning to breathe again. I will never let that happen to my children.
God bless you for taking care of the most important responsibilities we have as an adult.
My husband was cremated, so the arrangements will be for both of us, when I pass away. I only wish I was in my right mind when he passed away, but with no regrets, we will have a good funeral together, set up the way it should have been when he passed.
When the ones you love pass away, is NEVER the right time to take care of arrangements. Do it now.
Thank you for your message, it confirms what I have been trying to do for months now.
I will be "taking care of business" on Monday.
Bless you for the confirmation.
Sheila
Great comments, everyone.
Bill,
$50 for a plot back around 1976 was a good deal. I checked with an online inflation calculator and found that there has been 317.3% inflation since then. The equivalent price today would be $208.64, which is a very reasonable price. it would be interesting to know what the plots are now selling for in your cemetery.
P&M,
I've not heard of Harold Godwinson, let alone his comment. But I looked him up and thank you for the historical introduction.
Sheila,
I'm glad you feel motivated to get your final affairs in order. Your mind will be at ease once that is done, and it will be an example of responsibility for your children that they won't forget. You'll be further ahead than me, as I've only got a plot.
Herrick,
I went back and reread your We've Bought More Land post and realized I should have used the term, plots not lots, in my comments. I have no idea what they would cost today.
My Mom bought four plots in a large cemetery in South Oklahoma City in 1965 when we lost Dad. I'm sure she paid much more then fifty dollars.
Mom is buried next to Dad now. Two plots left. My Brothers told me that you can put two in a plot there now, also if we chose, we could easliy sell the remaining two plots. We are keeping them, but I guess there is a demand for all sorts of real estate.
Well, here is a different opinion, revealed when attending the memorial service of a woman who believed the same, and lived her life (and passed) that way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtZ3MgMokBU
Hope you don't mind the raucous delivery. This was to me a stunning affirmation of life and faith at the service - an unorthodox aproach.
mc
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