Ashes to Ashes

A portion of my dad’s cremains arrived in the mail today. My aunt (in Alaska) mailed them to me in a tupperware container. Several thoughts (a few which seem absurd) crossed my mind as I opened the mailing box to see if there was a letter or anything inside as well. (There was – a small paper origami crane, not sure why.)

Did the post office or any of the mail carriers that handled the package know what was inside? Did my aunt need to get some kind of clearance to ship human cremains? Will I need to deal with explaining what’s in the box at the airport when we fly back to Alaska next weekend? (That’s right, mailed from Alaska to be taken back to Alaska. I know it sounds odd, but it was the easiest way to make sure they get to where they need to go.) I was also reminded of a line from the “Tupperware Song” by The Rock Bottom Remainders. Basically it goes: “I hope that when I die, tupperware makes caskets too.” I guess, in a way, the do.

Anyway, I’ve sealed the box back up and it’s sitting on our kitchen table. I don’t know what else to do with it right now.