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October 28, 2010

Finally a conclusion

Alright WARNING straight up front…don’t read this if you are sensitive due to a recent death in your family. This was pre-written and pre-posted, so who knows who is around anymore. My deepest and heartfelt sympathies. For the previousVirtual  Funeral Museum Tour post # 1, # 2 and # 3.

And now gather round my dear internets. Here are some fine examples of standard and not so standard coffins. No, these are older models of boxes, not new ones. Elisabeth. No, don’t be silly Jen, this is a family coffin not for a larger than life type person like moi.


Oh, yes, that is real money Paul. No Snag we can’t take a pick to it to get it out, that would just be wrong.


And here is what a normal casket maker’s shop would have looked like


This is a really, really fancy smanchy Undertaker Ambulance


Now don’t be too disappointed I know the section on U.S. Presidents is smaller than that of the Pope, but so it goes. Hey let’s not get political during this segment, Sheila and you too Stacy Sue. Jean Luc I heard that.

{cue the U.S. National Anthem}

I know I don’t have to tell y’all who this is, but I will because of our out of the U.S. Virtual Museum Tour guest. This is a recreation of Abraham Lincoln.


This is the bill for President Washington’s funeral. Can you image how elaborate it was to have cost $99.25?



Now this glass case exhibit is not about a president, it’s about General Grant. It was sorta hard to take photographs of stuff in glass cases ya know. What with all the glare and light pointing the wrong way and ghostie like images.


We sat for a moment in the cubby hole memorial about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. Sorry I didn’t take photos, the exhibit provoked memories of when Beloved and I were there and watched the changing of the guard and new wreath placement in real life. It was very personal and moving and one event I think all Americans should experience, if at all possible.

Okay let’s move into the little gift shop.


Yes Daisy, they do have lots of bookmarks. Oh I know Hilary, I saw the loverly crosses and yes Mark even all the cool Egyptian things. Hey Jeni did you see the candies? Ah yes, I think maybe I could use a shot of this.


Okay that’s it. No, really that’s all folks. Yes there is plenty to see that I didn’t show you and no I didn’t go into detail about the stuff. Hey stop complaining, will ya, I did have to leave something for when y’all come to visit the National Museum of Funeral History in real life. Call and I'll let ya buy me lunch or dinner. Now be careful out there, remember there will be some little ghosties, goblins and whatever kind of popular political figures out begging for candy. And no don’t even thing about TPing my house, Bee!


Y'all come back now, ya hear!

14 comments:

Zephra said...

I enjoyed all those posts. Totally up my alley.

Laurita said...

You should market yourself as a professional internet tour guide. You even stopped at the gift shop! :)

ER said...

Who said, you can't take it with you! "Oh, yes we can!" That has to be the most watched coffin on the security cameras :)

Ha-ha my word verification word???
Murdm. Get it? funeral, coffins, death?

Dorraine said...

I think you should work in New Orleans as one of them thar ghost tour people. You could give yourself the name, Bloody Mary, or some such thing. No, wait, that one is taken.

Great touring skills!

Jannie Funster said...

Lunch or dinner with you? Sounds good! Kelly has the whole week of Thanksgiving and we're gonna go somewhere for 2 nights, maybe 3, not too sure where yet. Houston. Dallas. Corpus. Australia (I WISH on the latter.) :)

Where you gonna be on Thanksgiving.

Me hopefully not in a coffin of any sort, geez.

I bet Arlington was quite a moving experience. Would like to go there some day. Great country -- such awesome places to see.

xoxo

Stacy Post said...

Paige, it's always a treat to see what you're up to!

Linda said...

Very cool stuff, Paige. I learned a lot. Tastefully done for the holiday. And what Laurita said! peace...

Liara Covert said...

Love the wit and humour here. A friend of mine shared her experience as a telemarketer selling pre-paid funeral packages. One woman I know has a tombstone covered in a tarp in her garage and its already engraved except for final date. Her motto is, 'be prepared.' Nothing quite like taking the bull by the horns and organizing detail before you re-emerge in non-physical realms. You can always come back to attend your funeral and verify how things go. Limitless possibilities exist. It all depends on you...

Snaggle Tooth said...

How did you know I'd figure out how to get that cash out? Love those corners!
George's funeral was under a hundred bux? unbelievable! Prob worth a Mill bux in todays dollars... I heard Ullyses S Grant was Prez a bit after the big war, n is on the fifty dollar bill to boot!
I once saw changing of the guard at Arlington's Tof th Unknown Soldier during a DC trip in 8th grade ithe the Girl Scouts.
I Need Type-A booster...
Thanks for the tour! Good Job-

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Paige .. good history here .. what an interesting collection .. and your wonderful expose of a post ..

Thanks - have a good weekend .. Hilary

Jai Joshi said...

Thanks for the morbid tour, Paige. That money coffin had me fascinated. Are you sure I can't take a minute to grab some of those notes? Or would that be blood money?

Jai

sheila said...

Wow! Is that seriously a family coffin?

Deanna Schrayer said...

This series was so much fun Paige, not that I'm morbid or anything.
Actually, I'm going to need to know all there is to know about the people who design and build headstones 'cause that's what the hero of my novel in progress does - he just told me that the other day. I wonder if the museum has anything about that. I'll have to find out.

That recreation of President Lincoln is eerie! I couldn't have stayed around it long.

Thanks for the fun tour!

Jennifer said...

Paige! A family coffin? Seriously? I can't stand to be in the same room for any long periods of time, let alone be buried with them eternally!

Jai! Blood money???? Your so funny!

Jen