When I Die.

A lot of conversations have been had recently about death and it's got me thinking about what I want my funeral to be like when I die.

This might seem like such a solemn topic but I think it's an important thing to plan. You can say, "You're only 20 - you have no need to worry", but the reality is that you never know when it's your time to go and tomorrow is never guaranteed.

I believe that planning your funeral is a very important thing, as it is the last time you get to be with your friends and family - their last chance to say goodbye. There are a few specifics that I already have planned for my funeral.

First of all, I don't want people to wear all black. What I would like is for everyone to wear black with one item of clothing or an accessory (bag, shoes, hair band etc.) that is some kind of animal print - preferably leopard print or zebra print. Anyone who knows me will know that I am a huge fan of these prints, so I think it would be a great way to commemorate me. I'd like to be put in my coffin wearing a similar outfit - all lack with one item of leopard print. I'd also like to be wearing heels.

Secondly, I would like to have a rectangular glass coffin. Whenever I've mentioned this, people seem very skeptical about it and think it's a bad idea. I understand that it may be further upsetting for people but when I was younger, I was obsessed with Snow White so I think the glass coffin is a great way to represent that. Failing that, I would prefer a black coffin to another other colour, but a glass coffin would be my main choice.

I would like my coffin to arrive in a horse drawn hearse as I have always loved horse and carriages. I had one at my year eleven prom and I intend to have one at both my wedding and my funeral.

There are plenty of other specifics that I have too. I don't want any sad speeches or poetry at my funeral. I'd rather have people talk about the good times and some of my quirky characteristics. I also wouldn't want people to waste their money on wreaths, flowers and such. I'd rather them give that money to charity. I would only want one set of flowers that spelled out my name. I haven't decided on the hymns that I would like at my funeral, but I would like 'The Last Song' by McFly to be played before my coffin leaves the building. I would want people just to sit and listen to the song before my coffin gets lifted on the last line - "I guess it's time to say, we thank you all."

It's hard to say who I would want in the funeral cars or to carry my coffin because I have no idea when I'm going to die, and some of the people I would choose now may not be alive when I die. As it stands, I would like the following six men to carry my coffin - my boyfriend, Dad, step Granddad, my half brother and then who I consider to be my two closest uncles. If I had to have eight men due to my weight, I would also choose my Godmother's boyfriend and my Dad's best friend.

As for funeral cars, as it stands, I would like three six seaters. In the first one, I would like my parents and my partner. If it happened in the future, I would like my children to be in that one too. In the following car, I would like my brother, my adopted brother, my sister and their partners. And in the last one, I would like my best friends.

I have no preference as to where my funeral would be held or where I would be buried. I also don't have a preference where I'd like my wake to be, but I would prefer it to be more of a celebration than a commiseration.

There are lots of decisions that I've not yet made regarding my death which I think I need to make, but considering I'm 20 years old, I think I have it pretty well panned out.

Clare
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xxx