Hey there! I hope you all had a nice loooong weekend! First, I’d like to give a shout-out to reader Julie S. who celebrated her 31st birthday this weekend. Happy Birthday, Julie! Sorry I missed the party! I hosted a little retirement party for my boss on Saturday (his, like, seventh party celebrating his retirement). And in preparation for the party, I actually used some of my kitchen gadgets to make various dishes I served. It was then that I realized that I kinda LIKE to use my gadgets to make stuff; that is, I kinda like to cook, and I should do it more often. No one joked anything I served (at least not in front of my face), and everyone raved about the new house. It was a really cool occasion.
So then, one of my co-workers on Saturday pointed to my curio cabinet and said, “Oooooh, I want that. I’m coming back in the middle of the night to take it.” “My deceased dog?” I asked. (My beloved Maggie’s ashes are stored in a wood box/picture frame, which is on display in the curio.) “Noooo!” she replied, “the doll.” My dad gave me a beautiful ceramic collector’s doll named “Maria” a few years ago for Christmas. “Your dog’s in there?” she asked. “Yes, I want all my babies buried with me when I die,” I said.
So this morning in the copier room she said, “You know, in most states, they won’t allow animals to be buried with humans. That’s what happened to that billionaire Leona Helmsley who wanted to have her animals buried with her. They wouldn’t allow it. You’d better check with the local cemeteries.” Oh NO, I thought, could she be right? So I called a local cemetery. The nice man at the other end of the phone stated that the coffins come to him sealed and locked, so whatever is packed in them goes underground; therefore, as far as he’s concerned, my dogs can rest with me eternally.
I guess I should now call some funeral homes and make sure they’re o.k. with having animal remains placed in their coffins- but how would they know that there are doggie remains in the square, wooden picture frames my family places next to my lifeless body in the casket before they seal them? Okay, this is getting waaay too morbid for me to envision or write about. But hear ye, hear ye: I am hereby expressing my wish to have any and all of the animals that have preceded me be buried with me in my coffin—(this is just in case I don’t let my family know in writing...)
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Hey Eeyore!
Bunnies! Your cute, furry little bunnies. Yes, you need to get a pet with a longer life-span. Maybe a parrot. Or a turtle. Or how about an elephant?
Morbid!
Ack, I hate talking about things like this! But I will be completely heartbroken and devastated when either of my bunnies head for "the great litter box in the sky" as I call it. I never had a pet growing up (other than fish) so I will not be a pretty sight when something happens to them.
Hi Oy!
I'm with you on that one. When Sidney passes, they'll have to put me away in an institution...
Makes Sense To Me
But then I happen to have the cremated remains of a horse in a box here at my house. And if Porque Choppe dies before I do, I hope someone just shoots me. I can't imagine living without my precious little baby dog.
Hey Julie!
And Happy 21st Birthday again (lol!)
No, it's not expensive to get your pets cremated. It was placed on my bill at the vet clinic, so I can't quote an exact price, but I think it's in the $200-$250 range. The best thing is, the vet will send the body over to the crematorium so you don't have to go through the trauma of viewing your beloved's corpse (or, if s/he dies at home, ask your vet where the nearest one can be found- the one I used was on Bonney Road in VB). Your vet will have him/her cremated, then you can pick him/her up from the crematorium in a pretty little tin box. You can even buy an urn from them if you wish. I think they had some boxes with picture frames for sale as well as traditional urns (don't remember, really). I had already purchased Maggie's box from Pier 1. I don't have any "reserve" boxes for my other children, so I guess we'll have to find other suitable vessels when the time comes! Blessings! :)
Beloved Pets...
As for the pet remains, that is really cool that you want to do
that. My pets of the past are buried in the ground in random
locations. My favorite dog of the past, Foxy Lady, was buried at
my old parent's house in the protected forest area right behind
it. I carved out a wooden cross in her memory and jammed it into
the dirt by where she was. The other dog was buried there
too...but I think he got a rock by his little grave. He was mean
little dog, he's lucky no one just tossed him into the river
after he passed away.
Is it expensive to get your pets cremated? Where did you get
that done? and those picture frame boxes, where would you find
those? My dogs now are larger than the ones we buried before and
I the box and frame thing is a nice memory.
Thanks?
Glad you had a great time at your party and thanks (sorta) for the birthday shout out, even though you HAD to mention the age I turned. Not a big deal, just giving you a hard time. :)