Went to a cemetery today, to visit the grave of a 9-year-old girl who I’m writing about.
I know cemeteries are supposed to offer people peace and resolution, but—to be 100 percent honest—I find them, unambiguously, sad. And a bit creepy. Fascinating, too. But mainly sad and creepy.
After locating the grave I was looking for, I took a little stroll around. I spotted this one cement structure; a small little building with the door cracked open. It caught my eye, so I walked closer. Chiseled in cement were the words RECEIVING ROOM. I looked inside and there were, oh, 15-to-20 bins for newly arrived dead people to be placed, pre-burial. The moment was odd. I could see a bunch of 14-year-old boys daring each other to take a peek for $5. I’m not 14. I walked out.
The other thing that strikes me about cemeteries: They’re an enormous waste of space. We have a limited amount of earth and a seemingly infinite population. Yet we keep burying one another, without an especially good reason. I don’t especially care what happens to my body after I die. If possible, I prefer it be used for science, then cremated. What I don’t want, however, is to be buried. I hate the idea of people feeling they have to visit the site, and I also hate the idea of nobody visiting at all. So let’s just not have one. OK?
PS: Was sad to see Casey depart from Idol tonight, but not shocked. As of now, I think Lauren is the easy front runner to win this thing. In fact, here are my power rankings …
1. Lauren Alaina: I’m not a huge fan, but she’d perky and funny and young and blessed with a great voice (That said, this is the dumbest thing ever—an article on her fans being concerned that the tornadoes will keep her voters from registering. Uh, memo to your editor: People are dying. The Idol impact is not important.)
2. James Durbin: Easily the most talented. But he’s looking like Bo Bice and Adam Lambert.
3. Scotty McCreery: This guy might be my favorite. Even if he doesn’t win, I bet he has the biggest career of the bunch. Easily made for country radio.
4. Haley Reinhart: Love her, and the sexiness factor might help. But I just don’t see it happening.
5. Jacob Lusk: Killer voice. But, with rare exception, Idol voters don’t support minority singers. Sad, but true.
