21 October 2003Thinking outside the boxThe last box the one which will be lowered six feet into the earth amid whispers of "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" may no longer be adequate. As Americans bulk up, the standard 24-inch casket is becoming a tighter fit than a coach seat on a 737. Nor is cremation necessarily the answer: think "grease fire." Goliath (!) Caskets of Lynn, Indiana manufactures a 52-inch casket, known informally (and perhaps inevitably) as the "B-52". It won't fit in a three-foot cemetery plot, to be sure, and instead of half a dozen pallbearers, you might need twelve or fifteen. I'm starting to appreciate Lou Grant's comment: "When the time comes, just stand me outside in the trash can with my hat on." TrackBacks if any: Unfortunately, you've just reminded me of a Lovecraft story where a character cuts off a corpse's feet to fit it in a casket. Posted by: sya at 6:28 PM on 21 October 2003This is, I hope, the first time anything I've said or done has reminded anyone of H. P. Lovecraft. (Where's my Cthulhu for President sticker?) |