ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES

Name: A. Mortician Age: 33 Occupation: “Mortician” Place of employment: Almost Anytown, USA How long have you been a practicing mortician? I will have been licensed in the state of for five years on July 2006, however, I completed my apprenticeship about ten years ago. In between those times I was “actively” engaged in education and training to become a licensed mortician. Do you recall the moment when you decided to be a mortician? I was leaving my apartment with colleague of mine and we were going to go play disc and drink beer in down town . I was unemployed and living off of my parents good will. My mother, who was working her ass off as a health occupations teacher in the school district drove by me and my colleague. She saw exactly what I was up to and gave me the death-glare that only a mother can give a son. I turned to my colleague and said, “Dude, I gotta go get a job”. That’s not really fair though, I d

So, I’m increasingly interested in what separates us. I am mostly intrigued by this notion because I am so frustrated by it. I suppose it would be safe to say that I am mostly interested in discovering a way to bring us together. I am sickened by the course of our world, so sad about it, so depressed. Solace from the events is easy to capture, it’s just a matter of ignoring the greater problems of our world, ignorance IS bliss, but it’s no way to escape the eventualities. I have stumbled across a neat-o website www.pandora.com . The site takes on your musical tastes and streams a similar taste based on your picks. It seems to have some pretty deep tracks and I think it is probably funded by those that want me to spend more money, (and I probably will) but not through their pathways. I will write down the artists that I have never heard and like and march down to my independent music store and buy the records. I bring this site up because it has helped me think about iso

I went to a memorial service for my friend yesterday. He died a couple of weeks ago. He was a really cool guy. Certainly one of the coolest I have ever known. The "service" was perfect. It was in a bar/restaurant, people spoke that knew him well. People gathered, and cried, and laughed and were present for each other. Friends came from afar. Love was felt for those alive and for the memories of those who no longer are. My friend’s body was cremated a few weeks ago. Another funeral home took care of that responsibility. I am glad that I didn't have to. I also wish that I could have undertaken that for the family. It really didn't matter; the funeral home didn't matter very much. I am beginning to think that the funeral home in general, does not matter very much. I have a model in my head for the future of society and its relationship with "death-care". More and more it is less and less about what I do for most people on a daily basis. I am really getting

I am publishing this post because it was/is supposed to go into a major industry journal soon. If/when it does, my cover as A. Mortican will/could be blown. I don't care anymore. I am finding myself in a strange place over the last couple of weeks. I think I might post preceedingly to this fact if I can get my thoughts down in a succinct way. I am doubting that I can. Anyway. I apologize to you for yet again another rehashed version of what I always seem to be saying. This next spillage should shed some light as to my feelings about what a mortician should be, but at the same time, you've heard it from me before. I have been very fortunate. I learned my skills from some of the best mentors one could have. Some were very skilled in the embalming arts. Others were compassionate. A few, who taught me the most, were terrible funeral directors that explained to me every day, in their actions and deeds, who I did not ever want to become. I have had wonderful teachers, each of which