If I should die before I wake...
Björn and I took a walk in a lovely neighborhood the other day. In the end our walk took us through a churchyard where there was a serene little memory area. Nearly all Swedish churchyards or cemeteries I've been to have a little corner devoted to giving visitors a place to remember those departed loved ones who aren't necessarily buried nearby. (Edit: I stand corrected. These little corners are the proper churchyard places for spreading ashes. I don't care. I will still be remembering my grandmother every time I visit one.)
I reminded Björn of my wish that, if I die before he does, he not bury my body anywhere, but rather have it cremated, ashes spread somewhere of his choosing, and then take a moment to remember me in memory corners whenever he happens by one. (Corrected again: one may not spread ashes willy-nilly in Sweden. Fine. Spread my ashes in some "memory corner" but DO NOT think that I will stay there. I will be on the wind making you sneeze.)
He asked if my family knew that these were my wishes and it occured to me that I probably haven't been clear with my family about that. Then I started to think about the best way to communicate my wishes to them. A little envelope hidden away somewhere? No. Better to say something in advance.
An email? Out of the blue? Too creepy considering that I'm in good health and don't really have a reason to send a creepy email to my family.
So, here it is. A journal entry. Written for posterity.
If I go before Björn does I want to be cremated here in Sweden, ashes spread wherever Björn decides to do that. Have a memorial service in the states. Then remember me whenever, wherever you like.
There. That wasn't one bit creepy, was it?
I reminded Björn of my wish that, if I die before he does, he not bury my body anywhere, but rather have it cremated, ashes spread somewhere of his choosing, and then take a moment to remember me in memory corners whenever he happens by one. (Corrected again: one may not spread ashes willy-nilly in Sweden. Fine. Spread my ashes in some "memory corner" but DO NOT think that I will stay there. I will be on the wind making you sneeze.)
He asked if my family knew that these were my wishes and it occured to me that I probably haven't been clear with my family about that. Then I started to think about the best way to communicate my wishes to them. A little envelope hidden away somewhere? No. Better to say something in advance.
An email? Out of the blue? Too creepy considering that I'm in good health and don't really have a reason to send a creepy email to my family.
So, here it is. A journal entry. Written for posterity.
If I go before Björn does I want to be cremated here in Sweden, ashes spread wherever Björn decides to do that. Have a memorial service in the states. Then remember me whenever, wherever you like.
There. That wasn't one bit creepy, was it?