Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Abbey Unhusked

The learned Michael Gilleland  directs us to some instructive followup on my (actually, Dave's) remark about baseball caps in funerals.  In a followup email, Michael directs us to a fansite, commending the example of Edward Abbey:
He wanted his body transported in the bed of a pickup truck. He wanted to be buried as soon as possible. He wanted no undertakers. No embalming, for Godsake. No coffin. Just an old sleeping bag... Disregard all state laws concerning burial. "I want my body to help fertilize the growth of a cactus or cliff rose or sagebrush or tree." said the message.
As for graveside ceremony: He wanted gunfire, and a little music. "No formal speeches desired, though the deceased will not interfere if someone feels the urge. But keep it all simple and brief." And then a big happy raucous wake. He wanted more music, gay and lively music. He wanted bagpipes. "And a flood of beer and booze! Lots of singing, dancing, talking, hollering, laughing, and lovemaking." said the message. And meat! Beans and chilis! And corn on the cob.
The commentator sagely concludes:
Only a man deeply in love with life and hopelessly soft on humanity would specify, from beyond the grave, that his mourners receive corn on the cob.
 Followu-Oops:   In an earlier version, I attributed all florid prose to Michael, not the fansite.  The error was entirely mine--Michel made no claim of authorship; I simply misread his email.  Apoloigies.

1 comment:

Michael Gilleland said...

The words aren't mine -- they come from http://www.abbeyweb.net/bio/death.html.