Musing rather more often than usual about the Four Last Things (Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell for those of you without the benefit of a good ferreter), I have been exploring web-sites dedicated to on-line memorials. They are most entertaining.
First of all, Googling 'Four Last Things' immediately delivers an advert for Lastminute.com, conjuring the delightful picture of someone expiring at their keyboard and thinking, "Oh, God, I'm dying, and I still haven't visited Ravenna, I'll just see if EasyJet has a seat on.........."
Of the memorial sites, UK In Memoriam with its tasteful green design runs a useful news-ticker with stories from 'This Day in History' - presumably as an aid to speechwriters at funerals. My favourite from today - a useful reminder of how skin-deep the idea of racial equality in British history is:
1966: Euston staff 'colour bar' ended
A West Indian refused a job at Euston Station will now be employed there after managers overturn a ban on black workers.
For the expiring academic, Second Exodus provides a useful list of the relevant literature from the sixth century Council of Constantinople to the Recentiores Episcoporum Synodi, but could accelerate death as it has irritatingly mislaid the most recent work, "The Reality of Life After Death" pub: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, May 11, 1979. If anyone knows where they can find it, please let them know!
I can not recommend Memorial Service as their memorial designs, described as 'modern' are rather 1950s. However, much fun can be had in browsing their clever gravestone catalogue with its realistic "turning pages effect".
The Eternal Portal wins my prize for best URL and also for their exquisitely insensitive idea "Heaven's Mail" (catchline, Its Eternal). I quote:
"Remembering those we leave behind: sadly, from the beginning of time, it's been impossible to keep in touch with our loved ones after we leave this Earth. Fortunately for those of us alive today, that has all changed!
Using Heaven’s Mail—it’s Eternal™, you can write your messages now, while you are still able, for all those birthdays, anniversaries and special holidays yet to come (even 50 or more years into the future), and leave them with us for delivery to your friends and loved ones at any appointed time. Share your love, faith, or even favorite jokes & recipes! We're constantly adding new card graphics, and once you register, you can submit your own!
Oh, The fun one could have with that. Imagine, for example emailing one's daughter-in-law from beyond the grave with an irritating recipe on a grandson's birthday.
There is so much to see in the world of online death that I will have to come back to the subject later, as I am limited to one post a day at present. As I leave you as I am browsing Abbot and Hast's "Death Care Web Directory".
What a hoot!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
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4 comments:
Selfishly glad that you are not following doctor's orders to break from blogging, as I have also bookmarked you and learnt and laughed lots since I discovered you 2 hours ago.
If you are still considering visiting Sweden I can recommend it in my humble but biased opinion IMHBBO(?). Clean air, fresh water, low prices and even cool in parts.
When you are in Welney give Swallow my regards. The ghost of Hereward the Wake's horse supposedly haunts those parts.
Hope the blogging is theraputic.
With best wishes from the last Witch of Welney's great great great granddaughter.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your note. I am so sorry to hear that witchcraft has died out in Welney. Did you, by any chance, inherit anything useful (Cauldron? Specialist equipment? Book of Spells?) from your ancestor so that you can revive it?
The story of Hereward's mare, Swallow, has a ring of truth about it because of the very specific description of the beast, but may, as legend, go back as far as the Iceni. I will check.
Kind regards
Audrey
Good point, witchcraft in Welney might not yet be dead. I hadn't considered the fact that there may have been other witches since in Welney. To be more specific, to the best of my knowledge, the last persecuted (as in thrown in one of the rivers together with her donkey and both coming out bone-dry the far side) witch of Welney.
Strange that you should ask, but I have inherited her pruning knife, not that I have made any attempt to use it. Having been born on Halloween my left hand was checked carefully by a great grandparent and I was proclaimed witchless(?) or something.
If you find out more about Swallow please tell. One of my uncles and a local busdriver claimed to have seen the Headless Horse. I have looked, but never seen, perhaps a lack of witchcraft or maybe too little faith.
Regards Ruth.
Dear Audrey
Thank you for mentioning our memorial website (www.ukinmemoriam.co.uk). In appreciation for mentioning our website we would like to offer you the opportunity to post a memorial at no cost to yourself, plus a free memorial to the next 5 people who contact us via email mentioning your blog.
Kind Regards
Chris
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