So, I'm reading this book by science writer, Mary Roach, called Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers. I know, so predictable...
It is a very funny and engaging book. Roach writes about the different uses of human cadavers, from medical research, to organ donation, to testing the effects of weapons or landmines on human body parts. By the way - not pleasant - in case you were wondering.
It got me thinking about what I want to do with my remains. Of course, I am an organ donor. No point in me keeping them considering how I won't be using them anymore. But once they've harvested myliver, heart, eyes (I'm donating my glasses too), spleen and pancreas, what to do with the overall carcass when done?
Now, I know I'd always said I'd be taxidermied so Mr. A could prop me in the corner with a huge grin and a wave. We even talked about motorizing me with my other hand up holding a tray to offer martinis to guests.
Now, that has changed. I see now that I could serve a more useful purpose for all mankind. So here are my options:
- Use my carcass as a crash test dummy. I would have to insist on testing in a Porsche - as it might be my only chance to ever drive one. And I insist on wearing a formal Armani gown at the time. Do I even need to mention the Jimmy Choo shoes? Would it be possible to have liposuction beforehand? I don't think that's too much to ask.
- Testing for nonlethal weapons. I would prefer the nonlethal weapons used in Mystery Men - like the Blame Thrower (I'm dead, so how much blame would I take?) or the Shrinker (like I'd feel that wedgie). Even as a carcass I don't want to try the beanbag shooter. I saw Jackass. That bruise didn't go away for weeks.
- I think there should be something where the dead have to try on designer clothing - something where it would make fashion safer for the living. (It might be my only opportunity to wear a Pucci gown and I think I'd need to hold an Oscar to make it real.) They need cadavers to do that, right?
Under NO circumstances are they to practice plastic surgery on me. They use cadaver heads to practice various techniques. If I didn't get it in life, no one gives it to me in death. There's only so much you can do to leave a pretty corpse. I don't want to look better after I'm dead than I did in life.
What would you do?
The Assassin
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7 comments:
I'm an organ donor too. I haven't thought of what I might want to have done with the rest. Although being taxidermined to keep an eye on the hubster...not to serve drinks, but to make sure he's appropriately devastated AND behaving himself!!
Ooh! I hadn't thought of that!
I'm in the organ donor club too, but the rest of me will be cremated. The idea of decaying slowly over several decades doesn't sit well with my control freak nature. I'd rather sit in an urn and follow the family around for eternity.
If you do the taxidermy thing, you should have them put you in the garden with the alien plants. Maybe they'd take you back to their planet and you'd get to explore the galaxy.
I love that idea! Maybe we could put them in pots in the corner and I could be peeking out of them!
Both my parents donated their bodies to Baylor Med school. It was nice. I just called and someone came and picked them up. They were very nice and treated them with respect. Of course, you can't donate your organs then, but they don't want them if you're past a certain age & I plan to make it past that age.
If I don't last that long,then as my daughter says, "Take what you need and burn the rest.
That's awesome! You don't need to pay for a funeral, casket or plot and you're doing something useful!
The taxidermied like Trigger is pretty hilarious. I really like the "motorized and serving martinis" bit--quite hilarious. Terri's idea also has merit, though ironic since I refuse to sit outside in real life, so it'd be hilarious if suddenly if my cadaver is sunning itself as if I was a sun bunny.
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