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Funerals
Funerals are somber affairs. The family of the deceased show up to pay their respects and to support the bereaved. They all show some modicum of respect for the dead, whether that be tears, silence, or pleasant memories of the loved one gone. In this case there were two tears, tears that according to witnesses were shed at the appropriate time, as if planned.Funerals are often longer, as the family gathers to sing hymns to speed the wayward soul onto his or judgement. There are usually speeches, memorial testimonies, and a short sermon by the official of church, tabernacle, voodoo hut, what have you. In this case, there was no singing, testimonies or speeches. There was a short service, clocking in at the grand total of six minutes.
What to do with the body? This question is usually answered at funerals. Different cultures have different ways of commemorating the dead using the body. Be they good christian burials, cremations and ashes in the urns, or cannibalizing the corpse to infuse the dead's warrior spirit, all show some respect for the daed. This time, the dead had been cremated shortly after his death, which was a couple of months before the funeral. The ashes were still in the shipping box from the crematorium.
Now, I am not claiming to know what happened to the ashes afterwards. A guess might be hazarded. Namely that the ashes went to fertilizing some ditch on the side of the road on the way home. Now again, I don't really know, and I don't really want to. It frightens me.
It frightens me because this funeral was for a distant relative of mine, and these people who gave the funeral were also relatives. That begs the question of how barbaric my family really is, but that is an essay for a later time. I had thought they were normal, but after this travesty I'm not really sure. In the family's defense though, I had been told he was a bit of a drunk. And that he was or may have been estranged for the family for some time. I don't know, but still. Maybe its just superstition, but if I were given a funeral like this, I'd be damned sure to come back and haunt the hell out of the people who put it on, family or no.
This just uncovers my own peculiar ideas about the dead. I mean, seriously, they're dead, right? Why the hell should they care what happens at the funeral? I don't know, but the fact that there has been some sort of veneration of the dead since the times of prehistory lends some sort of credence to the whole after death experience.
Hauntings shouldn't happen scientifially speaking. Since when has Sceince had a complete understanding of anything? Personally, I'll trust five thousand years of human experience when dealing with the dead versus some cockamamie idea that after deat nothing happens because there is no scientific evidence. Please.
I think that whatever kind of life you led, perhaps there should be still some respect for the dead. Maybe you're life wasn't the best, aren't you still due some human dignity? If not for anything else other than you made it this far and didn't die younger? This might be a problem with babies, but parents are usually upset that they'll give the respect needed. If for nothing else than for the memory of nine months waiting for something that didn't happen.
Maybe a little respect in order for making sure that you didn't seriously damage anyone or anything. Or anyone's property. Shouldn't respect be given for the plain and simple matter that since you did nothing of note, you can be one of the few people to time travel with impunity? Given the fact that in this case you'd be dead, that last argument doesn't hold so much water.
All I hope is that when I go, I'll get a decent christian burial. A service with prayers and hymns to spped me on my way. Mainly because funerals are so dull and I'd be flying out of there faster if there were some boring songs. And just a few tears to make sure that the atmosphere isn't too dry. I want to die and be remembered as how I lived, always making sure that I don't make anyone too uncomfortable while shooting for the very best for myself. Well, that's the plan right now, and it'll be totally shot if I live forever.