Apologies if this is a bit morbid, but as I lay dying at the back of my house after I was shot in the throat, it did enter my head (along with various other things) what would happen to my body. I should say at this stage I didn't think I would make it. Afterwards when it was clear I wasn't dead, my english and american friends were all saying they were wondering what to do with me if I had died, as they thought I wouldn't make it either. I have been to too many Dominican funerals here (2 in 45 years in UK, 10 in 5 years here) to know I do not want the same for me. Buried within 24-36 hours (how would all my mates from UK get here in time), laid out on table on patio with eyes and mouth superglued shut, lots of people taking photos, buried in Juan Dolio cemetry (which is sand so you toast quickly) in cardboard coffin, buried 6 inches deep, so when people go for walk afterwards your feet sink in ground and come up with bits of bone stuck to your flip flop. In every funeral I have been to, the coffin wouldn't fit inthe hole, so either a motoconcho had to go and find a spade to make it bigger, or they have sawed a bit off the coffin, and then the body falls out. My husband (Dominican) explained I have to wash him when he dies. No wonder there is gnashing of teeth, wailing and pulling out of hair!!! I CAN'T DO IT!!!! Plus to make matters worse an American guy died here a year ago of natural causes, and had to have an autopsy, and someone told me that all foreigners (and I will always be a foreigner even if I am a Dominican citizen methinks) have all their organs taken out in Santo Domingo. I WANT TO BE BURIED OR CREMATED WHOLE!! I know I don't want to be flown back to cold UK. I want to stay here, but I want dignity and I wnat to be buried somewhere nice or cremated and maybe scattered in the sea. Is that possible? A friend is going to mix her husbands ashes with concrete and make an artificial reef for the fish. Would that be possible? Any ideas anyone, and is it true that the Dominicans would try and nick my insides? All advice gratefully appreciated so i can get this straight just in case I get shot again. Thanks
Matilda
Matilda