Precis: At Neil's funeral home, drama started to brew between everyone out of concern for their positions. The death rate has been lower than it had in the past ten yrs and it isn't expected to rise again for another 5-10 yrs where the baby boomer generation is expected to die off. So for a business that is meant to be rescission proof, business is pretty bad and income is low. Shannon was threatening to leave to accept a higher paying job that shes been offered and Erik and Richard have been arguing over who deserves to take over the funeral home. While this all happens, Shannon's uncle dies; and as we all attend her funeral it reminds us that we are all somewhat family. Afterword I tell Neil that I'm going to California and Nevada for a while to check out these highly publicized alternative funeral options such as eco-friendly burials and dead artwork.
Quotes:
"Soon enough, as if he wants to keep his hand in the game, Death throws us a gift to occupy our time, but it's wrapped in sad irony."(200)
"People spend more on pet services than they do for themselves. They love their pets without ambivalence." (204)
This whole section of the book refers to the traditional aspect of the funeral business and how although there are many new alternatives for death care arising, certain traditions still hold true. There were many intriguing alternatives to death care described that sparked my consideration, such as being turned into a piece of artwork or eco-friendly cremation. These alternatives have been coming up left and right but they are not as accessible as the traditional options. I question whether it will take a shift of public interest for the alternatives to become more popular or if the alternatives need to become more available for that to happen. What will need to happen first?
YO SEND ME THE LINK - DELOISE
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