Our errand-running this afternoon led us down a nearby road that
passes a chunk of land that calls itself a memorial garden and which I call a
cemetery. It's one of those with no above-ground tombstones, just plaques that
lie flush to the ground. It is tucked snugly between a golf course and the
airport.
According to their web site, in addition to "traditional
in-ground burials," they also offer cremation, lawn crypts, a mausoleum,
and a niche columbarium. (That's the official name of the structure with the
little cubby-holes that hold the urns of cremated remains. My grandmother's
ashes are in one of those at Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago.)
What is really fascinating about the place is the large banner
waving in the breeze at the corner of the property announcing "50% SAVINGS
ON SELECTED GARDENS." Probably the ones closest to the airport.
We are living longer, but I don't think that it's too few deaths
that is causing the garden in memoriam to throw a half-off
sale. More of us are evidently opting for the less expensive cremation and
ash-scattering.
Although -- I did click the button that said "This Week's
Burials," and it returned a screen that announced there were none this
week. Hmm.
And while I'm on the subject, and since I may never have an
opportunity to mention this again, I want those who are not already aware of it
to know that in Kalamazoo, Michigan, there is a cemetery called Mount Ever
Rest. I am not kidding.
No comments:
Post a Comment