PAYING MY LAST PRICE

After one year of chaos, I decided I finally had to make the decision. First, about a year ago, I fell one flight of stairs and broke my right leg. By fall, I was hit with pneumonia, severe sepsis, and a mild heart attack. I had a glorious near death and by the end of the third week headed home. By January, I got galloping pneumonia and fought it all month. Somebody was telling me something. So, I called the cemetery.

It is about one mile from the Iowa border. You drive to the right and head for the mature trees. There is a large Elk of which Carole is buried along with my Grandma  Myrtle. Carole died from physician error and Myrtle died of cancer.

Down from the Elk, is a stone that says  SNELL. In the plot, My father’s  parents and grandparents are located in the first row.   My father’s mother,    Annie Snell was the very center of my life and located in that first row. She died in March of 1949. My parent’s graves are in the second row, along with a cousin. In the third row,  are my Grandfather Gustaf, Uncle Bill, Aunt Gerry, and their daughter Lucia.

At the edge of the plot, is my grave in #5. My stone gives my name, year of birth, and the below the inscription  Good Vibrations/ Strawberry Fields Forever. My wife Jennifer was raised Catholic and the family plot is in a Masonic area. The two groups don’t like each other so she wants to have her ashes spread in the forest in back or near her grandmother in Council Bluffs.

Getting my grave, stone, and paid by credit card took about 15 minutes. It will cost about $2,500 plus tax. So folks, it was our time, our place, and our generation.

To everyone, that I should like, those I like, and the millions of souls I don’t know, I wish you well. For my material  remains, why don’t you stop by? Spiritually,  I am just over your left shoulder. The wind that comes up is just a spray of mysticism that keeps the world go around and around.  Soon, it will be your turn.

prof. joel snell

www.joelsnell.com