Arranged

We have no previous experience planning a burial and little experience with death and grieving. Knowing our baby won't live long though has forced us to do some research. This is called "making arrangements" in the biz.

The first time I called a cemetary, I didn't even know what to ask. I explained our situation, said I'd never done this before, and a kind woman then shared how details of a burial are handled (and priced). The first time I called a funeral home was harder. I listened as the process of picking up a body, embalming it, dressing it and making funeral arrangements were explained.  The man was gentle in presenting the generalities of his business, but discussing some of the more delicate details made me ache.

In an effort to exhaust possibilities, we've visited multiple cemetaries in the area. We've begged a nearby church to let us buy a plot (no luck, wrong religion, no exceptions). We've discussed "the portability" of cremation versus "the final resting place" of burial. We've price shopped the services of several funeral homes. We've looked at grave markers and considered flower arrangements. There are no firm details yet, but we have the information to feel comfortable in our decision making when the time comes.  Frankly, we genuinely feel lucky to be able to do such planning now. To make such decisions without prior warning would be excruciating.

After visiting so many cemetaries, I'll never look at a silk flower arrangement the same way again.  Ick.