What happens after?
Apr. 6th, 2007 12:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
graculusIt's been a long, emotionally wearing week. Somehow, I managed to balance all the crises with just missing one thing at work, and though I've lost the plot with distressing regularity (approximately once a day) I've managed not to do it at work. Which is fine by me, since I've always tried to keep work and the rest of my life compartmentalised.
And it could be worse. I also found out this week that one of our lawyers, who left very suddenly, did so after it was suggested she resign because she'd turned up at court smelling of alcohol. Jeez. Apparently the smell was so strong they thought she must have been drinking on the train there in the morning. *sighs*
Anyway, when it comes to tying up all the loose ends, last time I went through all of this, about five years ago, the critter in question (also a ferret, the inestimable Seamus) got buried in the garden with his favourite squeaky frog - when I was growing up, we always had cats, and that was their final destination as well, usually accompanied by a prized possession of theirs, while goldfish went on an expedition down the toilet. I'd thought about it this time round, having an idea it was something I would have to consider again in the near future, and so when Lily passed away this week I had already decided I wanted her cremated instead.
The place I went to is out in the countryside, a bit of a trek and some single track roads to negotiate, but it had the benefit of being run by what we used to call 'an old boy' where I grew up (a much more positive term than 'good old boy' on the other side of the pond seems to be). The kind of guy who, when I got back in my car to drive off, came up to me and gave me back some of the money I'd paid him because Lily was little. The most poignant thing, though, was the pile of a dozen or so cat and dog baskets and beds sitting in the corner of the building where the incinerator is.
I never knew, though, before exploring that kind of thing online, that you can get little caskets. Or picture frames with space for the ashes behind the picture of the critter in question. It all seems kind of oddball to me, but what do you guys think? I know many of you are animal lovers, so would you want Tiddles or Fido's ashes on the mantelpiece?
Meanwhile, I am also studiously avoiding touching either the novel or my UNCLE story edits because at the moment I am in the 'oh, it's all a big pile of shit, who would want to read that?' mindset. Hopefully this will alter with the assistance of the sunny weather and catching up on missed sleep from earlier in the week...
And it could be worse. I also found out this week that one of our lawyers, who left very suddenly, did so after it was suggested she resign because she'd turned up at court smelling of alcohol. Jeez. Apparently the smell was so strong they thought she must have been drinking on the train there in the morning. *sighs*
Anyway, when it comes to tying up all the loose ends, last time I went through all of this, about five years ago, the critter in question (also a ferret, the inestimable Seamus) got buried in the garden with his favourite squeaky frog - when I was growing up, we always had cats, and that was their final destination as well, usually accompanied by a prized possession of theirs, while goldfish went on an expedition down the toilet. I'd thought about it this time round, having an idea it was something I would have to consider again in the near future, and so when Lily passed away this week I had already decided I wanted her cremated instead.
The place I went to is out in the countryside, a bit of a trek and some single track roads to negotiate, but it had the benefit of being run by what we used to call 'an old boy' where I grew up (a much more positive term than 'good old boy' on the other side of the pond seems to be). The kind of guy who, when I got back in my car to drive off, came up to me and gave me back some of the money I'd paid him because Lily was little. The most poignant thing, though, was the pile of a dozen or so cat and dog baskets and beds sitting in the corner of the building where the incinerator is.
I never knew, though, before exploring that kind of thing online, that you can get little caskets. Or picture frames with space for the ashes behind the picture of the critter in question. It all seems kind of oddball to me, but what do you guys think? I know many of you are animal lovers, so would you want Tiddles or Fido's ashes on the mantelpiece?
Meanwhile, I am also studiously avoiding touching either the novel or my UNCLE story edits because at the moment I am in the 'oh, it's all a big pile of shit, who would want to read that?' mindset. Hopefully this will alter with the assistance of the sunny weather and catching up on missed sleep from earlier in the week...
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-06 08:39 pm (UTC)I wish I'd seen the options at the time, because there was a wide range. Dad opted for what was probably the least expensive version. (Seeing as he paid for it too though, I really have no complaints.) Jessie's ashes are now in a pretty carved wooden box, sitting on my bookshelf in the Computer room, with a picture of her on top of it. And a few little trinkets that seemed appropriate.
I live on land that's not mine, so I didn't want to bury her in the garden. (Not to mention it's museum grounds with the potential to be subject to archeological digs at any time.) My parents would have added her to our pet graveyard at home, but I don't live there anymore. I felt it made the most sense to just keep the box and make a decision later. People seem to understand when they ask what the box is.
I was really sorry to hear about Lily.