Burial? Cremation? Or What?

I’ve always figured I’d be buried when I die.
(I guess adding “when I die” wasn’t really necessary, was it? After all, most folks don’t plan to be buried before they die!)
Anyway, when I was growing up, that was what happened when people died. There was visitation at the funeral home, then a funeral (usually in the church), and then burial (usually in the cemetery behind our church – at least from my perspective.)

For the last several years I’ve been around folks talking about whether to be buried or cremated. Typically, this has led to discussions about the high costs involved in burial.
I’ve always shuddered at the thought of being cremated but also have been turned off by the costs of burials.

After much deliberation, I finally made up my mind. I’ve decided to donate my body to the Medical University of South Carolina. (Quit laughing. Yes, I know; they might have to be paid to take it!)

So, having made this decision, I e-mailed my thoughts and plans to family members (The Dawg, both daughters, my son, Mom, my siblings.)
Now, I didn’t intend to alarm them by doing this. It’s just that a person can’t wait until he or she is dead to let loved ones know such things, right?

Both daughters responded immediately. They wanted to know what was wrong. Had I gotten bad news? Was I trying to tell them something? Oh, they were so concerned!

Not everyone was alarmed, though. I heard from Mom. She didn’t ask if I was sick or had gotten bad news or anything like that.
Instead, she e-mailed the following: “Hey, while you’re at it, why don’t you go ahead and write up your obituary?”