Corpse Convos

Sara Mazariegos wrote recently a blog entitled “Have You Ever Talked to a Corpse--its boring.”

https://saramazariegos. com/2024/10/09/have-youever- talked-to-a-corpse-itsboring/

I have talked to a corpse, and actually it wasn’t boring but rather hilarious.

Mother was adamant about not wanting to be viewed after she died, but when she passed a granddaughter wanted to say goodbye, so Mother was dressed in her pink St. John suit, and laid out in a private room for special viewing.

I ventured into the space, feeling a bit guilty for not following her pre-death demands, and touched her face gently.

“Oh Mother,” I jerked my hand back. “You are freezing!”

Of course she was, she had been in a cold enclosure waiting to be cremated for at least 48 hours.

“I’m sorry you are cold,” I lamented. “You may need a heavier jacket on so you would feel more comfortable.

“You look good” I assured her, not wanting her to worry she wasn’t properly ‘put together’ for her family visitors. I continued to stare at the face of the woman who had birthed me, taught me, comforted me, irritated me, and molded me, as I talked softly to her saying my personal goodbyes.

I patted her cheek once more, turned to leave, and stopped, wondering if she wore a pair of her Ferragamo shoes.

I lifted the sheet covering her feet, and sucked in a startled breath.

“Oh my god, Mother. You are wearing a toe tag,” I yelped.

Yes, Mother was dead. She would never have allowed a toe tag to take the place of her favored footwear.