An Unlikely Discussion About Bodily Remains
This is actually kind of funny…
My husband wrote me and our three sons an email the other day telling us what he wants done with his body if something happens to him in Thailand…where he lives…where he has regular bouts of road rage…while driving…or dodging threatening cars while on his motorbike. I have to admit, drivers are worse in Thailand than they are in Mexico and that is saying something!
My husband:
I just stumbled onto a site re USA embassy procedure for a death of a US citizen in Thailand. The embassy makes an effort to notify the next of kin, coordinates wishes re transfer of the remains, organizes and disperses the personal property and forwards all the official necessary documents.
Not always a palatable subject but I do have some preferences: -no need to transfer any remains — arrange for a cremation in Thailand, ashes left under a tree anywhere. And prefer no memorial service. – I have little personal property of any value in Thailand (beatup pickup, obsolete computers, generic TV, poorly functional gold clubs and misc shorts, T-shirts and sandals). I will arrange for local dispersal.
I am registered with the embassy and receive their periodic updates, warnings etc. It is a worthwhile feature. Statistically, most likely, I will be around for a while. But an accident –esp with my motorbike riding is always a possibility so when I saw what the embassy does I just wanted to express common sense wishes.
Also in Thailand the medical profession goes to inappropriate heroic measures to prolong life. Shutting off a ventilator is apparently not an option so step in if I am incapacitated and veging inappropriately…
Not anticipating checking out anytime soon but just wanted to simplify any decision making……..
A friend recommended Effexor for road rage but received no comment…:))
Son number 1 who lives in Las Vegas:
Ok.
As long as we’re on the topic.
My preferences.
I want to be buried in the middle pasture at Black Butte Ranch. I’ve often thought about this. It’s the happiest and most serene and most beautiful place I can ever remember.
I dont care if it’s my whole body, but I think the BB folks would NOT be cool with something like this (full burial in public w/o permission with guests passing by with frowning faces) so it will probably have to be clandestine. So that means cremation and then plunk me under a cow pie somewhere while no one else is aware of whats going on.
Im serious. I dont want a headstone. I dont want to be in some no name cemetery.
As far as my belongings, I dont care about any of it. Disperse it, share it, trash it. It wont matter to me. My estate attorney, he’ll help with all that.
Ok. Got it? Black Butte Ranch. Cremated. Buried in the pasture, maybe a couple meters off the bike path that cuts across it. NO sign or maker. I just want to be where I can see the sisters, Mt Washington and Jeff.
K?
Got it?
Good. Im not kidding.
Afterward, hike up Black Butte, stand at the top breath the clean eastern oregon air and think, “it’s good to be alive and not under a cow pie!”
You dont all have to be there, but at least got to be one of you otherwise it wont happen.
(My day is coming, just like everyone else’s)
Then son number 2 who is married to a Thai wife and lives in Thailand:
creamate me, add the ashes to soil, grow a pot plant and my friends can smoke me.
Not a peep from son number 3 who lives in Hong Kong…yet…:))
I told my husband that in Mexico, where I am, any unclaimed bodies are cremated…no charge! :)) Of course all this is predicated on at least one of us being around to honor various wishes.:))
But all is duly noted..and recorded here…:)) Mainly so as to not drive future genealogists crazy who would uselessly be looking for headstones.
Tags: About The Nomad, Burial of remains in a foreign country, Doug, Greg, Joshua, Progeny, Reflections, Uncategorized
Zoe
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