Maine Could Allow Viking-Style Funerals
I've always been a big, bald, tattooed dude with attitude, but certainly never been a violent human being. I sort of "look" tough, but I'm just a big teddy bear. Although, there was a time in my life, where I certainly would've thought that being buried in a coffin in the ground was just not how I wanted to leave this world.
On the other hand, I never really gave much thought to how I'd like to go. I figured, I'm not going to be here to worry about it, so however my family wants it to be would've been fine. But, I've definitely always known I wanted to be cremated. Again, the idea of spending eternity in a box in the ground just didn't seem quite right to me.
One Maine group is looking to change this, and offer something a bit more ornate, if not downright awesome. Good Ground, Great Beyond, is a group looking to change the way we think about end of life services. Here's a brief description from their website:
...60 acres in Midcoast Maine designated as space in nature to contemplate and remember. Our aim is to establish a contemplative sanctuary and scattering garden and to build a legal open-air cremation pyre.
Now, to be fair, TV shows about Vikings etc., have caused a lot of interest in the idea. I'm not saying that's why the folks at GGGB want to do this. But it's certainly a time where the general public might be the most receptive to such a radical idea. But is it really that radical? It just sounds honorable and fitting to me.
Think about it.... Death is a big deal. A traditional funeral and burial is expensive, and also a very somber event. Imagine, under the right circumstances, being able to be placed atop a huge fire in the open air, and be sent to the next life with your friends and family watching the epic blaze.
Still a sad event? Of course. But a life well lived might need a bigger send off. A bill headed to state legislature, LD 1074, would allow non-profits to perform services like this, provided they have at least 20 acres of property to do so. They'd only be able to do one service at a time, and the remains can be scattered on the property, says the BDN.
I'm all for it. Obviously, this is not for everyone, and the concept has a number of hoops to jump through to get there. But I think for some folks, this would feel like a fitting tribute. Maybe someone battled cancer. Maybe someone was a former service member. there are any number of reasons why it might seem more fitting to honor someone in an epic and honorable manner such as this.
Sign me up, kids. when my time comes, I want to leave this Earth in a full conflagration of badassery. I want the flames to lift me up to wherever I'm headed next. And I want the next realm to feel the fire behind me as I rise up to whatever couch and snacks the next realm has. Oh, and I hope they have Netflix.
See.... I told you I'm not tough.