Reading Envy 179: Think of the Bees

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Courtney is a listener who contacted me to chat books on an episode (you can do this too!) She talks about herself as a reader, including a unique book club, and then we talk about books we've read and liked recently - three are fantastical and two are far more realistic.

| Link to Episode 179 |

[Jeff]

I enjoyed the book talk, especially the science(!), but what really got me thinking (and what I'm still thinking about) was the post-death talk at the end. My wife and I have considered that tree thing but will probably get cremated, and we have all the ashes of our past dogs and cats so what am I going to do? I'm with Courtney on the afterlife non-belief and I like the thought of having our ashes all together somewhere. Hmmmmm..........

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Jeff wrote: "I enjoyed the book talk, especially the science(!), but what really got me thinking (and what I'm still thinking about) was the post-death talk at the end. My wife and I have considered that tree t..."

I thought it was a nice thought! My father in law who just passed had his ashes scattered along with his many dogs he loved.

[Elizabeth☮]

I read a book, Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial, about alternative ways to dispense of your body upon death. That's where I first heard about the coral reef idea. They go into the detail of how it is done in this book.

I loved all of the environmental discussions Courtney touched on. Great guest!

[Elizabeth☮]

Jeff,

We wanted to keep the ashes of all of our dogs and cats. My husband and I had six dogs when we married. We wanted to cremate all six of them, but that's not how it worked out. We have them all buried in the backyard. My daughter, who is eight, asked me once if Scruffs (she was nineteen when she died) was running around the backyard before we buried her. I told her, "Of course not." My husband commented, "She could barely walk." Azaria was adamant she saw Scruffs running around before we buried her. Interesting. We still don't know what she saw!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "I read a book, Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial, about alternative ways to dispense of your body upon death. That's where I firs..."

I just checked out How We Die Now: Intimacy and the Work of Dying as a result of all of this.

[Jeff]

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "Jeff,

We wanted to keep the ashes of all of our dogs and cats. My husband and I had six dogs when we married. We wanted to cremate all six of them, but that's not how it worked out. We have them a..." Neat story! Nineteen is amazing for a dog. I hope our dogs live that long. She must've had great genes!

[Elizabeth☮]

Like most of our dogs, Scruffs was a rescue dog. She showed up one day and never left. She was a great dog. In my pictures, you can see most of my dogs. Scruffs is the white dog.

[Jeff]

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "Like most of our dogs, Scruffs was a rescue dog. She showed up one day and never left. She was a great dog. In my pictures, you can see most of my dogs. Scruffs is the white dog."
I just perused your pictures. Very nice! I especially like your engagement photo, what a fine looking pack you had! All our dogs and cats have been rescues as well, including one we took from a family member who got divorced and lost her home.

[Elizabeth☮]

Rescues are the best. We have three dogs right now and two cats.