We have all heard this: death and taxes. Let's see…it is that most wonderful time of the year when all of the mail reflects that fact that it is time to take the weekend off and do the taxes…ugh! I dread this every year as it usually involves and cranky husband and a whole bunch of papers spread all over the office floor. We decided awhile ago to do our own (after seeing a huge bill with a so-so result). I use the word loosely as Dave is really the brains of this operation. I provide chocolate chip cookies and beer. Carry on my prince!
The REAL reason for this blog is the other half of this equation: DEATH. It was recently brought to our attention that, after many years of consideration, our church will be building a "Memorial Garden" on its campus. This has received a huge response from the community as Highlands Ranch has thousands of people with NO funeral home, burial sites, or the like. SO, after weeks of providing meetings to the church members, Dave and I set out last night to attend "the first 30 minutes" of the presentation. You see, I had to promise that we would wrap up the evening with friends at a local pub watching a favorite band. Dave went with some reservation. He does not like to think about dying, cremation, burial or anything remotely related. At this point, I was afraid we should have started the evening with a beer instead of ending it with one! As we walked across the parking lot to enter the chapel, a truck came whipping around the corner and he put his hand out (as if to stop it) and said "Hey…I'm not here to check IN to the wall…I'm just her to check it OUT!"…I burst out laughing and from there on in, the night was a bit hit…a great date night…I encourage you to try it (haha!!).
This is a tough subject, but once you hit your mid-forties (okay okay late 40's) it is a good conversation to have. I had an idea of what Dave would want but who blogs without sharing intimate details of their lives? Here goes with some of the highlight quotes of the evening:
CTM: Do NOT have a viewing of me…nothing to see here…move along! And oh by the way…I WONT view you dead unless I am holding your hand when it happens.
Dave: Maybe you can just sprinkle me in Lake Dillon so all of Denver gets a piece of me.
CTM: Disgusting, but you and my best girls and family can sprinkle me over Seal Beach (where I spent many happy weekends with my sister growing up), The Broadmoor (where I literally grew up and had all of the family highlights), the mountains, and the shoe department at Nordstrom.
Our son: Mom…the janitor will just vacuum you up and who knows where you will go?
Dave: I'm not sure you care what I want…you already have this worked out!
ENOUGH already!! On a serious note…it is something important to consider. I am grateful that there may be a place where we can all be memorialized together, if not buried. I am just thankful, for the time being, that we are all healthy and not having this discussion under other circumstances. One interesting part of the evening was hearing how historically, burials went from churches, to outside graveyards as the population became more diverse. There is a huge resurgence in cremation (both to save the earth and for other personal reasons), which has given churches a chance to extend their presence in the communities. It may be something we can take "off the plate" for our children during a sad time in their lives (we hope right?). Just some light conversation for a cold weekend!
Carry on COFFEEtalkPEEPS and have a GREAT weekend!!
P.S. For more information: www.chcc.org
Click on the memorial garden link at the bottom of the page.
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