Category: on death

Earthquakes and Body Disposal

Times of natural disaster are a good time to practice body disposal. That’s how the mind of a writer works.* If you don’t want to be disturbed avoid looking at their search history, or sitting within hearing distance of a group of them. I had thought it was just the writers I knew but I recently attended an authors panel, they mentioned how the general public are uncomfortable with the things writers discuss openly.

Wellington was hit by some big earthquakes this week. There was driving around in the early hours of the morning due to evacuations, messages from writing friends and oddly a couple of exes (it’s nice to know you care but you need to move on). My current work-in-progress is set during the Christchurch earthquakes of 2011. Recent events have made me consider depicting the earthquakes themselves. I think it’s just a distraction. You can have an apocalypse story (not that this is) but what you really care about are the people involved.

When someone legitimately dies there are limited options to dispose of a body legally; burial, cremation or donation to a medical school. Unfortunately I don’t live close enough to either of the medical schools to donate…unless I plan my death well. I can still (and intend to) donate organs. Natural burial is the most environmentally friendly form of body disposal.  I found a cemetery that does this in Wellington. I also found traditional (natural) coffins. When I go I’m going in this one:

*When I hear fireworks I think it would be a good cover for gun fire
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Categorised as on death

On death

I interrupt myself from asking a friend if she thinks someone would die if they fell down the hill behind her house to ask instead;

“Do you think I’m morbid?”

“Yes. But I like that about you.”

When critiquing another writers stories I often ask whether characters I dislike are going to die. I cheer when they kill off characters.

I have a strange idea that I’m only going to live till 41. I have no idea why. Perhaps because Jane Austen died at 41. A friends response to this was;

“I’m 41. That’s not old.”

I’ve dated guys older than him. I know 41 isn’t old. But, for the moment at least, that feels like my use-by date.

A friend is turning 70 next month. This is a huge milestone for him as his father died at 69, his grandfather didn’t make 70 either and, he’s worried he won’t make it.

A couple of years ago I started watching the Ask a Mortician YouTube series. This changed the way I view death. I used to be scared of it. Now I recognise it’s inevitable, it’s what happens to all of us, it’s how we all end. To be honest I’m looking forward to it. To me it seems like a big sleep and I need one of those.

I’m not saying I put myself in dangerous situations. My body was not impressed when I went sky diving, it was several months before it trusted me again. I don’t want to piss my body off so I don’t put it in situations it’s uncomfortable with. You may notice I talk about my body separately. My mind was calm, even during free fall; I only screamed when I remembered that’s what you were supposed to do. After the parachute opened I asked the instructor in a normal voice;

“How long till we’re on the ground? I would prefer to be on the ground, please.”*

I’m not a thrill seeker. I don’t even like scary movies. I appreciated when a friend, seeing I was nervous about the fate of characters on screen, leaned over to tell me;

“It’s OK. They don’t die.”

Last year I wrote my will. I don’t have a significant other or anyone I can rely on to take care of things for me when I die. I think this year I may plan my funeral to make it easier for my sister who is the executor of my will.

I found a natural burial cemetery in Wellington and funeral homes who specialise. I intend to investigate further, I will keep you posted.

*Even when fearing death I am extremely polite