Me: Hmmm … I have a few days free right now and maybe I should …
Subconscious: Oh good … we’re going on holiday!
Me: Holiday? No … of course not.
Sub: But, we haven’t been on holiday for sometime.
Me: Yes we did … we went to the seaside for the weekend two years ago … that was nice!
Sub: Wasn’t it just? OK … what will you do with your free days?
Me: Well, I was intending to plan …
Sub: Oh no … not more plans. You’re always
planning something; and writing documents, and filing all sorts of bits
of paper. It’s your need to be in control of everything. Always
planning! Why can’t you let things be? Surprise yourself. Be
instantaneous. Let things happen for a change, without any plans and
schedules. What is it you’re planning this time?
Me: Well … my funeral, as it happens.
Sub: What?
Me: My funeral.
Sub: Are you feeling well? No aches and
pains I should know about? Apart from your brain that is! What’s brought
on the sudden need to plan your funeral?
Me: Well … It helps get things organized …
you know … when the time comes. It saves the bother and worry for those
left behind to have to sort things out.
Sub: But … the whole purpose of dying is to
get others to sort things out. It gives them something to do and stops
them moping around with miserable faces.
Me: It would be nice to organize the funeral service in church. My favourite readings … favourite hymns …
Sub: Oh no … not those sad hymns. What is it with people and sad hymns at funerals? Why not sing something cheerful?
Me: Like what?
Sub: Like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Maybe people would like to sing
those at your funeral rather than your sad hymns.
Me: But people always have mournful songs at funerals.
Sub: Don’t they just? And what is it with
that Whitney Houston song from the movies? What’s it called? And I will always love you.
With that very long elongated … "I eeeee" which goes on and on before singing "will always love you". What’s all that about?
Me: It’s sad. It depicts the love people have for the person who has died.
Sub: What nonsense. If you really love
someone you tell them so when they’re alive. When they’re with you. And
you show that love through the way you treat them. Not tell them all
about it when they’re dead … When it is too late.
Me: You have a point there …
Sub: I always do. Take my advice. Forget about planning your funeral and go and show your love for somebody.
Me: How well put …
Sub: And another thing … you’re a pain in the neck … working your way South!
*******
NOTES: I don't know about your TV but over here we have a lot of depressing adverts about funeral planning, cremations, and how it is better and more responsible to plan ahead for your departure so that your family don't have to bother ... or care. This must be very sad and worrying for many viewers.
There seems to be too many adverts with a negative sombre tone; like adverts for care homes, senior citizens sheltered housing, end of life planning and will writing, mobility scooters and so on. Meanwhile, adverts for foods, luxury cars, holidays and cruises always feature young people with families enjoying all that is good in life. You never see ads showing elderly folks with skin that needs ironing in their swimsuits on the beach. It's always the young and beautiful. (Thinks: keep young and beautiful, if you want to be loved.)
What's wrong about a photo of me in my swimsuit?
I haven't seen a lot of ads or commercials for funeral homes here. I see older people in commercials but it's usually for medications.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Mary. Here too; the subliminal message in ads is that at a certain age you either need medication, orthopedic beds and mobility aids, or you should plan your funeral. It must be very distressing to many folks. Especially those in care homes spending time watching TV.
DeleteGod bless.
Well, it would be funny to put an 80-year-old on a motorcycle and a 20-year-old for a nursing home. It was reality. Reality bites sometimes. We have ads for everything - mostly drugs. They always end it with the last side effect - may cause death.
ReplyDeleteYes reality bites; but we should be sensitive towards our TV viewers. Adverts for cremations every 15 minutes is hardly caring. These are then followed by adverts for funeral arrangements, will writing before it's too late, and taking Insurance to pay for your burial. Admittedly, these are targeted adverts by professionals who know who their audience is at particular times - but they can be very distressing to some folks.
DeleteGod bless, Sandie.
Yes, over here Funerals are Big Business ($$$). I've just taken to throwing those advertisements in the trash bin.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I'm wondering if you and I aren't on the same page. I hope to be around for another good long while, yet my conscious has recently prompted me to put my thoughts in writing. "Celebrations of Life" are the latest thing ... together with funny stories and upbeat music. I actually saw something that said, "Put 'fun' back in 'fun'erals."
One of the cremation companies over here is called Celebration of Life. The idea is that the individual pays for his cremation now upfront; and when he dies they take care of everything. No problems or worries for the family who can celebrate as they want, when they want - including holding a religious service if they want. In effect, the company takes the body and returns with an urn full of ashes. Not too dissimilar from what my wife does regularly with the Sunday roast.
DeleteGod bless, Mevely.