Dad talks about death all the time. He says he had something happen where he heard a voice saying very clearly, "you've spent your whole life helping teach people how to live. Now it's time to teach them how to die." He's very comfortable and not at all maudlin about it.
A couple of years ago I went with him to buy his and Mom's burial space. I say "space" because they have a hole in the mausoleum wall of a cemetery in Harrisonburg. Mom refuses to talk about it any more than absolutely necessary so I went with him. Besides neither of them drive anymore. It went well and all things were talked about and paid for. Mom is happy because she has this thing about being buried underground where bugs and things can get at her. She liked the fact that she will be about 5 feet up off the ground.
I went to the funeral of a good friend last week and came back to my parent's house to report. I said "Dad, I've got your funeral day all planned!". "We'll have the service at 11:00 followed by the grave site service at 1:00. Then everyone will be invited back to the church (the address will already be in their GPs) to eat and visit for as long as they want. We'll have it catered and tell the catering people that all we want is for them to bring the food to the church and then leave. We'll take care of clean up and everything. This way, those coming from Maryland can visit with mom and she can go home whenever she wants with no mess and no fuss going on there." He allowed as how this all sounded like a good idea.
He has a good friend that he asked to write his eulogy several years ago. John has already written it and sent Dad a copy for his approval! He worries about getting all his papers in order and doesn't want anyone to be put out or worrying about any untied loose ends.
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