TMPletz said:

I have thought about a knocking device IN the coffin.

HamsterHuey said:

Natisse said:

It was a very moving experience, but very joyous - it was quite emotional watching the family laughing out loud with tears streaming down their face. I'll never forget that image.

I'll orgnote/text you later, hun - please don't think I'm ignoring you! Just been a weird couple of weeks.

onenitealone said:

aww hon I don't think that ...but I do hope you're ok! you know where I am

p.s. paying my big Australian storage bill this weekend so I'll be free to come to Cardiff soon!!!!!

I've only been to one funeral in my life and it was a workmate's boyfriend who died of a heroin overdose. Same as Huey says, the parents did not approve of this quy's lifestyle and the priest went off on a sermon about the evil of drugs. It was awful.

I just read in the paper there is a guy who will fly up in his plane and throw your ashes out wherever you want. I might go for that. I don't care much about the funeral, that's really for those I leave behind to organise in any way they like, it's more for them than for me anyway.

Natisse said:

Excellent! Come down whenever you like!

onenitealone said:

asap I promise

charlottegelin said:

I have a special place where I want my ashes to be scattered. It's a beautiful field in my hometown, a protected site. It almost at the top of a slight slope and when you reach the top and turn around you can see the fields flow away from you, with forest to the left and forest to the right.

The field holds a very special place in my heart, as it is the place where my first bf and I went to talk; there was always quiet and peace.

When he died, he wanted his ashes to be scattered there, which I did. It is good, cuz on one side we will both return to a place that is of great importance to us. On the other side, there is good too, as it is a field that is worked in the old fashioned way to grow crops and the earthly part of us will be part of new creation.

HamsterHuey said:

that would be nice.

charlottegelin said:

Double plus good is that on top of the slope sits the most beautiful burial place of my hometown, where both my parents found a resting place.

How did the Remembrance Day for your friend go, Herman.

onenitealone said:

Hehehe.
It went VERY well. So my hangover assures me.
We talked, we cried, we laughed, you know, the way rememberances should go, in my opinion.

Natisse said:

The beauty, of course, is in all the beautiful posts people add to it time after time.

I had someone orgnote me, worried that some of the humour expressed on this thread might be inappropriate, but as long as it is not harmfull, I just love the humour. It should be a part of saying bye-bye.

HamsterHuey said:

Just how many of us would like to be remembered, I'm sure.

Weird as this sounds, I'm glad it went well.

Wonderful thread Herman, my closest and best friend died just a few weeks ago, and as He had relocated to L.A. from London a couple of months before with His partner, I needed to do something so that I could move on too. So I did the following for Him:

(Taken from my online journal)

I haven't been able to update since the 26th October, I just haven't known what to say - much less been able TO string a coherent sentance together. To those that readily offered their support and condolances, my many many thanks, you really helped.

I had been wanting to do something to say 'goodbye' to Perry since this past wednesday, but due to bad weather on that day and my mother going into hospital for an angiogram yesterday it pretty much nixed those ideas. However, I awoke this morning to crystal clear skies and the sun shining within them - today was the day. I knew I had to do something to 'let go' so I decided that the best thing would be to do something 'symbolic', something that meant something for me, otherwise i'd have just f*cking lost it completely.

I downloaded some appropriate music to my mp3 player, packed the book He bought me, some tea lights, a few cigarettes, and headed into town where I bought several glass candle holders: one for me, Mark, Anaeus, Josh, Alan, Natasha, Maddy, ...and Pip.

I found the perfect spot underneath the canopy of a tree at the side of a lake in a quiet area of the town's park. I lit the candles one by one, and when they were all alight, I gently placed them upon the water and recited a favourite memory of Perry for each one. I then said a few words, put my headphones on, lit a smoke, and stood there for a good hour or so and just watched the shards of light falling through the trees upon the glass candle holders, gently lilting upon the water.

After about 30 or 40 minutes of them all staying clustered together relatively closely, to my surprise one of the candles broke away from the main group, and made it's way out into the middle of the lake alone. One tried to follow, but due to passing ducks and swans gliding by it eventually returned to the embrace of the group via the birds wake. Well, I wanted symbolisim - seemingly I got it.

After about five minutes or so remaining in the centre of the lake, this one lone candle began to drift, very slowly, with the current away from the group. I couldn't believe it - it couldn't have been more perfect if i'd tried. I looked up into the deep blue sky and said, 'Hey - if you're around, let me know Sunshine'. No sooner had I said that, than a large leaf dropped from the tree above directly in front of me onto the surface of the water, into the path of the remaining candles.

I smiled knowingly, and the lone candle continued on it's journey - still burning brightly.

Goodbye Sunshine, I love you very much. xXx

A million lights are dancing and there you are, a shooting star
An everlasting world and you're here with me, eternally






"All is in endless flux. Each wandering shape a Pilgrim passing by and time itself glides on in ceaseless flow. A rolling stream and streams can never stay. As wave is driven by wave and each perceived pursues the wave ahead. So time flies on and follows, flies and follows, always forever new. What was before is left behind. What never was is now."
- Ovid (Abridged and adapted, Arthur Golding translation - 1567)

'Nana - I hope you're doing well, mate.

I think that was a beautiful way to remember your friend.

Take care.

BananaCologne said:

Good rememberance, Paddy. I think I will suggest this to my best mate Mike, who felt cheated out of saying goodbye properly...

HamsterHuey said:

Thanks babe, that really means a lot.

I'll org note you later today, if you don't get one by tea time, hit me up and remind me, because i'm all over th eplace right now