Life, Death and the Funeral Home

A friend was just telling me how she had to visit a funeral home. That got me thinking about how I hate the rituals we observe when someone dies. It's a primitive custom to have the body on display, isn't it? I don't want people coming to look at my dead body! Seriously, it's morbid and I'm too vain to consider what I would look like.

I think we need to change that custom. It should be a celebration of the person's life, it should be upbeat. Here's what I'm thinking - People would come to an art gallery for a reception with wine and cheese, just like an opening (I guess this is more of a closing reception!). There would be acid jazz playing, a retrospective collection of art would appear on the walls and it would be Fabulous. My body wouldn't have to be there! Hang a photo on the wall, maybe have a 5 minute video loop- no casket though. The after party would take place at a night club with a wicked dj and plenty of vodka. I wonder if a vodka company would sponsor my after party? After Party is a much better name than 'a wake', isn't it?

Anyway, when my college mentor and good friend Martha Fairchild passed away, I organized the art show that we planned together and never had the opportunity to exhibit. The show was a tribute to her- it was a great opening reception, there was good press coverage and it was elbow to elbow on both floors of the gallery. Everyone talked about how wonderful she was all evening and looked at her art on the walls as they sipped their wine.

Everyone should have a tribute party rather than a viewing. This could change the way people think about death, or more importantly, the way people think about life.