In The Morgue

[harpsiccord]

My mother met a very nice funeral director (I'll refer to her as Miss W) that was willing to let me contact her. We spoke on Saturday, and she invited me to her funeral home to watch an embalming the very next day

Comments

[inkyjinx]

Harp.

Harp it's Ole.

And I am never getting embalmed. Omgomgomg. Just stick me in the ground and let me rot.

On another note, you are totally brave and awesome <3 This was super interesting to read, I had no idea that people's mouths hang open when they're dead, but it makes so much sense! D=

[becomingkate]

Reading this from your link in the PE post--
Wow, I just could not handle that. I have a relatively strong stomach, but just reading that description makes me feel a bit queasy.
You're doing good work though. I admire that.

[harpsi_fizz]

Aw, thank you, Kate!

[frankemix]

On ontdcreepy, you warned us about squick. For whatever reason, nothing in this post made my stomach flip, aha. All of this was really interesting! Thank you for sharing.

Also-
Harp: Curious about the mouth-shutting?
Rin: yes
Rin: because i didn't even realize that was an issue

Never realized people didn't think about this. A few years ago, my grandfather died, and what family was up here at the time said their goodbyes at the hospital. Between sobbing almost uncontrollably, we managed some giggles about how his mouth would not stay shut. ... I realize that sounds really strange as a very, very beloved family member died some hours earlier. o_o Perhaps joking was subconsciously part of our mourning process? I don't know. That bit of conversation just reminded me about that.

And made me type a paragraph totally unrelated to your post. D:

[harpsi_fizz]

It probably was- your emotions wanted out. And think about how people laugh when they're nervous, too. Anyway, I bet he wouldn't want you to feel sad, so... so it was good.

There's no such thing as "Off Topic" in my journal! :D

[barsukthom]

Wow.
You're pretty amazing to be able to do this; I'm pretty sure I couldn't.

Egyptian Funeral Rituals took forty days, I seem to remember? A lot of which was stuff like you're doing, I guess.

Still- Thank you so much for sharing it with us, I mean it.

[harpsi_fizz]

They had to do it without face masks and technology, too, eeeewie! D: I am grossed!

[barsukthom]

Yep. Or refrigeration.
Kinda helps explain the clouds of ritual incense, though.

[4eyedblonde]

This is really really interesting! I definitely wouldn't be able to do that job, being the empath that I am. Too much sadness. I'm surprised not a lot of people know about the jaw-popping-open thing. That's why Marley had a handkerchief around his head in A Christmas Carol--to keep his jaw closed!

[harpsi_fizz]

People forget that detail about Marley in favor if... well, they actually forget he even showed up half the time. "How many ghosts visited Scrooge in the play?"
"Three!"
He always gets forgotten. ;n;

[4eyedblonde]

FOREVER ALONE