U is for...

UM

U could be for a lot of things.  Undertaker, perhaps?  But I've already had Jim Wright, a former embalmer post on P day for preparing a body for burial as well as Q day for Q&A, so it might be overkill if I chose undertaker as my U word.  Plus, what more could I say on the subject?  Uh, they're nice? 

Then I thought about the UK.  Stay with me here.  I'm sort of OCD about checking my blog stats.  They used to be sort of embarrassingly low.  Hi Mom!  But now I've got real traffic and a third of it is from the UK.  I feel like buying a t-shirt that says "I'm Huge in the UK."  But, that would be really weird, so I won't do that.  Although it's very tempting.  Very. (Hi Lori, oh t-shirt maker you!  You can make that one right after you make the "You had me at Bacon" tee.) So, I know of two people from the UK who comment regularly on my blog, so I'm gonna give them some love right here in this post.  Hi Clare and Wes!  Here's a link just for you to UK death statistics.  You know, just for fun.  I appreciate your comments.  Like a lot.

Okay, so UM.  My husband suggested I write about unmarked graves, which sounded wonderful at 11pm last night, but then I spent my day assembling 625 snack bags for kids taking the STAAR test tomorrow in Texas.  No, I didn't do it all myself, but there was that.  Then I got my kids from school, came home and had to wash a sink full of dishes.  Then I baked some M&M cookies for the teachers.  Then I made dinner and now I'm composing this totally random blog about the letter U.  What I really want to do is watch the Ranger game with my husband.  But, I'm dedicated to this blog.  And I'm dedicated to you, dear reader.  The problem is, I don't want to do any research, so the place that came to mind with a whole bunch of unmarked graves (some of them are marked with a number) is Peckerwood Cemetery.  Actually it's called Joe Byrd Cemetery and you can read all about it here.  It's where poor inmates in Texas are buried if their family doesn't claim their body.  If my book ever gets published, I want a picture of that cemetery as the cover image.  Why?  You'll have to read the book:)

Oh, and there's this Biblical quote about unmarked graves.  Luke 11:44  This is from the English Standard Version.  "Woe to you!   For you are like unmarked graves and people walk over them without knowing it."

So, I'm sorry I didn't deliver any earth shattering U topic for your reading pleasure today.  Check back tomorrow when I have a very special guest blogger.

Got any questions for me?  Ask away!

T is for...

Okay, so we've already established on this blog that every single one of us is going to die.  We've covered burial and cremation and what we want to happen when that someday happens.  But here's the deal, you can have your totally awesome funeral all planned out in your head, or the fact that you want to die in the comfort of your own home there too, but if no one knows about it, how is that going to happen?  This is where trust comes in.  Who do you trust to take care of all the details at the end of your life?  More importantly, does this person know that they have been entrusted with this responsibility?

Never assume that another person knows how you'd like to be cared for at the end of your life. I want you to be brave. It all starts with a conversation.  It could be with your spouse, your partner, your bff, your sister, your brother, your child.  You get the point.  It could go like this...

You:  So, I've been reading this blog called the death writer and she

thinks it's important to think about the end of my life.  And I think she

may be right, even though it's kind of morbid.

Your (_______):  Oh, yeah?

You:  Well, I downloaded a form that is fairly specific about what

I want to happen if I should be incapacitated and unable to make

decisions on my own.  I think you're really cool and smart and I trust

you a lot.  Would you be my agent?

Your (________):  Uh, sure.  Can I see the form?

You:  Sure.  Here it is.  We just have to get it signed by two witnesses.

In case you are unable to do this, I've also picked ________ to 

be an alternate.

Your (__________):  Really?  You picked_________? They have

horrible fashion sense.

You:  I know, but they've got a good heart.  Hey, you wanna go

see a movie?

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!!!

So where you can get these forms?

Click on the links, peeps.

Death with Dignity is a great place to start.  They have a lot of research about end of life issues.  And here you can access a free Advance Directive for your state.  For a more specific account of what you want to happen as far as care at the end of your life, check out Five Wishes.  Be aware that this document is not legal in all 50 states, but their website is a great resource to check out.

Another thing to think about is a will.  You know, so you can dole out your vast fortune to all your friends and relatives  or even your dog when you die.  Don't think your kids aren't going to fight over who gets what, even if it's like a 40 year old television set.  And if you've got serious assets, you really need a will.  You can read about Leona Helmsley's unusual will here.

Well, kids, I hope you learned something today.  I also hope you have someone in your life that you can trust.

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