Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Last Will and Testament
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RetiredDave |
The Cremation of Sam McGee " My favorite poem by my favorite poet, Robert Service! I read this poem to my fifth grade students every winter when the snow was deep and the thermometer bottomed out. I also told my fifth graders that when I died, I would be cremated and baked into their hot lunch. And believe it or not, I was retired, not fired! Another cremation story. My best friend growing up, Dan, died at 63. He was obese, I mean, really, really big. He wasn't married, so we got his ashes. We divied them up in smallish bottles and spread them all over the world. It was kind of like a 'Flat Stanley' andventure, with photos and all. But Dan was so big, we still have lots of Dan left over. He was spread recently on the pitcher's mound where he pitched when we were kids. We're running out of places for Dan. Maybe when humans get to Mars? Dave |
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WonderMonkey |
egknuti: "If you spread ashes hopefully this doesn’t happen to you: Spreading Ashes " Apt ending for a great film. |
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Kermit |
OCDave: "I recall learning in Biochemistry about the body absorbing amino acids from the meat protein consumed and incorporating those amino acids into its own proteins ie: "you are what you eat". Logic then dictates "what eats you becomes you". I decided that day, I desire to be eaten by wolves." I know a place! |
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egknuti |
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Blatz |
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ockycamper |
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awbrown |
egknuti: "If you spread ashes hopefully this doesn’t happen to you: Spreading Ashes " I was surprised when I got ashes back from the crematorium. More like kitty litter in consistency than fire place ashes like I expected. |
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Unas10 |
-it is okay to scatter pulverized ashes on Forest lands as long as you are well away from commonly used areas -no burying of ashes -keep them out of the water unless you are more than 3 miles off shore That last one might need some clarification. |
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Blatz |
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billconner |
So a cell phone photo is not a picture? |
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billconner |
Unas10: " A quick and lazy internet search: Who knows. I found opposite: The National Forest Service, in general, does not permit the scattering of remains on forest lands. That’s because placing cremains creates a “perpetual occupancy,” and may be “incompatible with the purposes for which the lands are managed.” National Parks generally permit it but you are supposed to get a permit. BLM lands are fine. Each state and municipality has their own regs. I did find an EPA prohibition for inland waterways in US. Not sure how that relates to water in national parks. Quetico for me. My sons know the spot. |
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Bearpath9 |
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LindenTree |
How ironic if his name was Sam McGee, it would have been his double cremation. The Cremation of Sam McGee |
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pswith5 |
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WonderMonkey |
On my last (and only trip) to Quetico, I spread the ashes of a dear friend's dad who spent time there relaxing and writing poetry. I made a video of it for my friend and she loved it. See it here, if you would like: David McCray So ... I just told my wife that upon my death I want $1,000 allocated to my outdoors buddy and a portion of my ashes spread in the BWCA or Quetico (his choice). I know some of you have spread ashes of tripping buddies and such, and I think that is a great idea. |
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LindenTree |
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TrailZen |
A couple interesting tributes come to mind: A gentleman who frequently shot clay pigeons with a group of friends left instructions that his cremains be added to lead pellets during reloading of shotgun shells; his friends spent a final afternoon shooting with him. And a man who died of heart attack on a local mountain biking trail system is still travelling those trails in the seat tubes of the bikes of the four friends who were with him when he died. TZ |
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WonderMonkey |
Blatz: "In the late 80s I found a recently added head stone on a cliff near Pipestone Falls. It had been cemented in the ground with a half empty bottle of Jack was embedded in the cement. I also found the cardboard box from the crematorium the ash had been in and an empty bag of cement . This obviously isn't allowed but it was interesting " On one hand it's easy to say "Big no-no" but if I came across it I would think it was weirdly nifty. I think it comes down to how often this was done. If this is the only one you found, ok, but if you found 20, then it's bad. Did you happen to take any photos? |
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JimmyJustice |
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yogi59weedr |
That being said my buddy owns a funeral home. He know a guy who is going to load me up in some professional grade fireworks and have a fireworks show. Food and beverage provided. |
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WonderMonkey |
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boonie |
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WonderMonkey |
pswith5: "My kids have offered to leave me there before I am ashes!! Should I be worried ?" Will they bring you supplies at some interval? If yes, then no worries. |
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A1t2o |
pswith5: "My kids have offered to leave me there before I am ashes!! Should I be worried ?" Ha! My wife just tells me not to come back. |
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Zulu |
At his celebration of life there was a table with about eight glass jars filled with his remains and filler sand. Each jar was labeled with the name of each lake along the route. The jars were various sizes according to the size of the lake and different colored filler sand was used. It was very interesting looking and creative. The plan was for his children or friends to transfer the remains into plastic bags, paddle the route and reverently dump each bag in the correct lake. His kids are not paddlers, campers or outdoor people for that matter. All his friends that paddled with him in the 1970’s are overweight, have COPD or abuse substances. I suspect all the jars got dumped off a pontoon boat in White Bear Lake. |
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OCDave |
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Voyager |
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awbrown |
"When I die, I want you to spread my ashes right here on this lake," brother exclaimed as he took another drag on his non filtered camel cigarette. Without missing a beat, my teenaged son calmly exclaimed, "Unk, when you die we're going to squeeze the tar out of your lungs and use you for driveway sealer." From that day forward, my brother was affectionately referred to as "Uncle Lung Butter." It wasn't too many years later when COPD came to call and we made sure that his wishes were carried out. |
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RunningFox |
OCDave: "I recall learning in Biochemistry about the body absorbing amino acids from the meat protein consumed and incorporating those amino acids into its own proteins ie: "you are what you eat". Logic then dictates "what eats you becomes you". I decided that day, I desire to be eaten by wolves." Exactly, which is why I avoid burnt food. I don’t want to make an ash of my self. |
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billconner |
Scattering ashes in Ontario |
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WonderMonkey |
billconner: "I think you may be ok in the Q. It doesn't mention taking my body there to burn, thus creating the ashes? |
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Blatz |
WonderMonkey: "I did but being in the 80s it's an actual picture and may or may not be in a box somewhere in my basementBlatz: "In the late 80s I found a recently added head stone on a cliff near Pipestone Falls. It had been cemented in the ground with a half empty bottle of Jack was embedded in the cement. I also found the cardboard box from the crematorium the ash had been in and an empty bag of cement . This obviously isn't allowed but it was interesting " |
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tumblehome |
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