Not that long ago, I read a story on the front page of the New York Times which fascinated me. In New Orleans, where people march to their own drummer, a funeral director had come up with a rather novel approach; before burial, he allows the family of the deceased to stage the departed in a pose which reflects their true life circumstance.
For instance, one departed soul (corpse is another way of putting it) was a boxer in real life. So, naturally (nothing natural about this whatsoever), the funeral director stood him up with boxing garb complete with gloves. You would think the boxer had suffered enough punches in real life for his loved ones to move on. Apparently some families like to remember their loved ones just the way they were, not after they kick the bucket, buy the farm—well, you get the idea.
All of this has gotten me to thinking about how I would like to be positioned after I leave the scene. If my friends and family want to remember me in my favorite pursuit, then the solution is simple. There is nothing I like more than a good nap. And then after a hard day’s work smelling the flowers, eating three solid meals, watching tv and reading a good book, I love to lie down for a good night’s sleep.
So my pose is repose. Lie me down and let me sleep. No boxing gloves for me.