Rest in Peace…or in Vinyl
Today, I want to bring up a very morbid topic. If you’re morbid, then you are showing an unnatural or unhealthy interest in unpleasant and disturbing topics, such as illness and death. That’s what this blog post is all about.
Death. We will all experience it. When your turn comes, what do you intend to do with your body? More accurately (precisely; correctly), what do you want your family or friends to do with your body once you’re dead?
Most people want to be buried (placed in the ground); others want to be cremated (burned completely) and have the ashes (black or gray powder left after burning) kept in an urn (tall stone or metal container for storing ashes) or to be scattered (thrown in a random way) in a meaningful place.
Have you thought about putting yourself in vinyl?
A few weeks ago, I’ve heard about companies that will take your ashes and press them into a vinyl record, one of those black, round disks (flat circles) that is used to play music (see photo). These companies provide a service that will allow you to select any recording–your favorite song, a recorded message from you to your family, your last will and testament (legal document stating what you want done with your money and property after you die), your favorite episode of ESL Podcast(!)–and create a record using your ashes. This way, you can live on (for others to remember you) in something that you leave for your family or friends.
Would you want your ashes pressed into a record? If so, what would you want the recording to be? If not, what would you want done with your body or ashes after you die?
~ Lucy
P.S. “Rest in peace” is a phrase we use at funerals (ceremonies held when people die) to express our wish that the person who died will forever have peace. We talked about this phrase in the Learning Guide of ESL Podcast 514 in the “What Else Does it Mean?” section.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:58 am
I always have fun with your texts, Mrs. Lucy
Tks!
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 am
Ashes and scattered (new word thanks) them in an unmeaningful place.
I would like to rest only in the memories of the persons who loved me while I was alive.
The same as my mother rested in my memory while I would have good sense.
That´s all.
A good question in a good day.
You are always in my mind too, as the best teacher and a good friend………..
but do you really exist?…as we don´t ever have seen a Lucy´s photo or video….
It doesn´t matter, Lucy exists in the mind of thousands of persons all over the world
without seen her as a living soul.
Being present it doesn´t so important, acts are the fundamental about a person
and the memories that others have of this love one.
We all love you Lucy, and we love Jeff too….but we know Jeff, where is Lucy?
Is She a Fairy?… Is She an ideal recreation of Jeff to be our lovely teacher?
Who knows?
Real or not, you are the one.
Regards. emiliano
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:03 am
Just now I have asked Cuca for her opinion about resting in Vinyl, and she said to me that it could be a good idea if it doesn´t cost too much trouble or money.
Which music? I have asked her….and she has replied ” El Concierto Para Un Gentil Hombre” del Maestro D. Joaquin Rodrigo, this is a wonderful concert to guitar that she likes as one of her best music.
I agree with her about the music but about the Vinyl… ……well I need to think about it.
Incredible nice and original topic, I need to ask more friends about this option….
Good, very good Lucy.
emiliano
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:05 am
Hy Lucy,
there is yet another morbid method to “get rid of” deceased family members – compressing the carbon remains of their ashes into diamonds. No joke ! They do it in Switzerland and even in the U.S. (LifeGem).
Diamonds are a girls best……
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:47 am
Hi , that’s very good to became a music disk for your family and friends … i think next time they invent an CD or DVD from our corps , maybe that’s more reliable and portable , until then i don’t want to die
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Great text, as usual! But, To be honest, I never ever thought about such idea.
I think that I would like to rest only in memories’ people that I love and loves me as well!
The rest is the rest and doesn’t matter!
November 2nd, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Into a vinyl record? Me? Oh my god!
I think, it’s like some horror movie story…..
If possible, I’d rather be scattered in the sky.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Hi, Lucy
I prefer to be my ash scattered because I think what comes from the nature should go back to the nature.
Another reason is, I want to free my children etc from the responsibility of ‘sweeping the grave’.
Hope the moment will not come too soon, I want to continue enjoying listening to ESLPOD for many years to come.
We have seen your shadow and your fingers from ESL Podcast’s Anniversary Video Podcast, or, are they really your shadow and fingers?
Thanks again to you and Jeff and everyone in ESLPOD, very grateful indeed.
Betty, 3 November 2010, Hong Kong
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 pm
well, a very happy topic I think , especially when you wake up in the morning and read this post.
in 26 of November I will turn 19, so I think that moment will be far away in the future , but in case i die accidently , well , I would rather want to be buried not burnt , for God sake, how any one of you guys agree about this concept of being burnt. it gives me goosebumps even when i dare to think about it.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:29 am
Dear Lucy,
)))
I would like to be buried in a beautiful garden. In this way, at least my body would be usefull for plants to be fed and so that I can push flowers to grow!
It’s not necessary to be cremated to make a vinyl record for your family. Already, everybody can make a record to put their favorate musics and private messages for others. If I decide to do make a record, I will definitley put my favorate ESL Pods in the disk.
Thanks
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:29 am
Lucy,
))
What the article entails, gives me the creeps. I dont know yet simply because I haven’t decided to buy the farm:))( die)
But, when my number is up( I m about to die) ,crematorium ( the place for cremation or burning corpses, if you will ) is the last place I wanna be.
It gives my soul the willy If you know what I mean.
It is a known fact that We r originated from soil ,so for my money , I prefer to be decomposed to my very essence ( soul)
Untill then, keep topping off my glass of wine until my head hits the table
Interesting topic , but very odd ,and in a way, outrageous business . If it is a way of making easy money, don’t count me in buddy
Making money out of a sordid person who has lost a beloved or somebody whom he or she dears most while weeping and bawling his /her eyes out is not me pal
I draw the line at it ( with a marker pen)
Keep in mind,
When it comes to life, quantity gives way to quality hand over fist.
So live it up folks
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:35 am
Lucy,
God bless your soul
Definitly , tonight I m not goona sleep,just tossed and turn
Probably ,I have to keep one eye open just in case boogyman wants to clump up the window
It Is not a cheerful news considering that I have a history of bed-wetting:))))
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:51 am
Hello people!
Death! Why men have to die? In fact, men has never found the really reason they have to die. Why men hope to go to Heaven (or hell) after death? The explanation is before the earliest time, when men were created, from an Eve’s rib. But the real truth no one can tell, because it is unknown. Who came back after death? Do you know someone who has come? That’s the mystery men don’t understand. Do men come from a God creation? Do men come from a random phenomenon? Is the evolution theory by Darwin true? Who knows? It is better stop thinking about theories and living this life in Earth while we are alive. Let death to be thought when it comes.
Aecio from beautiful Brazil.
November 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 am
that’s real a good topic, but frankly speaking, i never took it in consideration, rest in a disk? maybe it’s a good idea, you know everything is so expensive in china, even for death,cemetery is so expensive now. if you are poor, even you can not burden the cost of death in china now
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:25 pm
I already have made my decision, after i kick the bucket(die) my body will be donated. I am a proud organ donor. This was that best decision i ever made, i will help people that are in needing for a organ trasplant, and a part of me will live on in someone’s body. I think we all should take that into consideration. Why waste your body in cremation or being buried, while there is a lot of people that need a second chance to live.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Another interesting article from Lucy
Take your ashes and press them in a vinyl record! It is amazing! How people can think so odd things!
But however, I have been thinking about what song or music I would record in my ash vinyl: I hope to have a lot of of time to can select a good one, for instance, a hit from the year 2050
Viva death business!
Thanks Lucy or whoever you are (Emiliano has introduced a strange question in this blog…a new x-file at ESL)
November 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Bill wang Says onNovember 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 am
‘everything is so expensive in china, even for death,cemetery is so expensive now. if you are poor, even you can not burden the cost of death in china now’.
Very interesting, someone telling the truth about life for some in China.
I had not even thought about it is so expensive to die.
All I know is, if I am not careful with what I eat, I may end up in hospital and the operation fee will be so high that I cannot afford it and I will have to die.
It is expensive to live, and it is expensive to die, it must be too expensive to turn yourself into a piece of vinyl in China. People will be scared looking at or touching the vinyl anyway, why bother?
November 4th, 2010 at 3:39 am
Hi
Lucy,
I need a prep talk ( talk for preparation , motivational talk, putting some positive tome)
I have a huge exam to write in one hours local time
The exame includes essay questions and case studies
I need you my dear prof.
Worth 40 perccent of the whole mark
A midterm exam
November 4th, 2010 at 4:29 am
All kind of ceremonies are very expensive everywhere and giving a short or nice ceremony to the person who has past away here is quite expesive for the relative or friends.
Some people need to ask for a loan to have enough money to buried or cremate the love one, and yes it´s a problem for lot of persons to think in just giving a nice end to the corpse.
Incredible but true, just dying is very expensive to the ones who remains alive, and of course everyone may expend as much as they want.
Years ago the common use here was to have an insurance policy to cover all funeral expenses as the majority of people couldn´t afford it.
They were paying all life to cover the act of dying and be buried, in fact my parents have one till the moment my mam was fed
up with the man who came home asking for the money every month.
When Cuca and me travelled round Europe we have a policy that covers the eventuallity of dying abroad, so our daughters have not problems to buried us after the decease.
Nothing happened, we are here so they have not necessity of using the decease´s policy with us, God´s thank, but Cuca was worried about the problems our daughters may have about our death, a mam is a mam always…..even after her death.
The act of dying is very expensive in China, Spain, USA…….or so may countries, in fact it´s a businesss for lot of people who
make their profits about it.
We can´t avoid dying, that is the real matter…….so it´s a business that never has a crisis.
November 4th, 2010 at 5:24 am
Betty Says:
November 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
It is expensive to live, and it is expensive to die, it must be too expensive to turn yourself into a piece of vinyl in China.
——IT’S definitely true. i’ve read in reports someone threw his mother’s corpse into lake with stone, because he did not have the money for her burial. so miserable! yet it’s true in China
November 4th, 2010 at 5:28 am
Bill wang Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
—-WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? THERE’S SOMEONE CENSOR MY COMMENTS BEFORE IT CAN BE SHOWN IN THE WEBSITE?
….
Dear Bill,
Each comment we receive on our blog is read by someone here at ESL Podcast before it appears on the website. The main reason is that we receive a lot of spam (unwanted advertisements) through the comments section, and to avoid annoying our readers, we remove them before they can appear.
Very rarely, we will not allow a comment that is not appropriate for our website. For example, if someone makes explicit (very specific) sexual comments, we will not allow those, since we have some children reading this blog. Also, if someone flames another person (personally insults in a very hurtful and disrespectful way intending to make another person angry), we do not allow those comments either. While we very much encourage discussion and people will disagree, we believe that it is necessary to maintain a civil tone (polite atmosphere) for everyone’s enjoyment. Again, this is very rarely an issue.
Those are the main reasons we read comments before they appear on the blog. We hope you and our other readers understand our policy, and we’ll continue to work to make our blog a good place to visit for everyone.
ESL Podcast Team
November 4th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Dear Bill, be quiet never I have a censor here after writing for years and telling more or less what I want in a polite or moderate terms.
This is the best Blog of all, and please write everything you like without restrictions at all, in the civil tone ESL Podcas Team said to us.
All my comments are under moderation before I could see them in the Blog and I do think is the best way
of making a Blog nice and agreable to all the blogers.
emiliano
November 5th, 2010 at 4:44 am
i definetly want to buried not burnt, i really don’t get the idea of burning dead people ,it doesn’t make sence to me.