Mega Stores

Ben and I are thinking about getting a membership to a warehouse store. We're thinking of Costco because it's near to us and better than BJ's Warehouse which is close and more expensive. Anyway, I want to get a spot steam cleaner for spills on the carpets and upholstery and I was looking on Costco's website to see what they had (which turns out to be useless since they say what's on their website is probably not what's in their stores). I was quickly scanning over the navigation categories on the side of the page to move from looking to cleaners to baker's racks and thought I saw something that said "Urns and Caskets." I did a double take. Urns and caskets? Urns and caskets! The store that sells cheese slices and paper clips in bulk also sells caskets and urns. Somehow I am very disturbed by this fact. Would you offer samples of these in the store next to the new brand of microwave pizza?

Unfortunately for those of us living in Maryland and Virginia we are not allowed to order caskets on Costco.com -- it seems that only people in 26 states can order caskets and urns.



The Renaissance Urn Company offers a soft and comforting resting place for your loved one. These lightweight fabric urns are ideal for memorial services and scattering. Each urn is beautifully crafted of fine silk and is completely lined. You will appreciate the quality materials and simple, elegant lines.

*
Size: Urn
*
Color: Sage, maroon, or steel blue
*
Silk fabric
*
Fully lined interior
*
Meets U.S. transportation security guidelines for easy travel
*
Includes: Plastic inner urn, plastic bag and tie
*
Volume: 220 cubic inches
*
Dimensions: 8.5" W x 6.25" D x 4" H
*
Weight (w/box): 2 lbs.

There is something grossly frightening about the description of the silk urn. It has a plastic inner urn, plastic bag and tie? Tie? Like a garbage bag or bagel bag? A twist tie? It seems like such a contradiction considering that this is product is toted as a soft and comfortable resting place for you loved one's ashes. I understand the psychological need to have a comfortable bed and liner in a casket -- it's basically the bed your loved one will rest in for eternity. In fact, it really looks like a dead person is sleeping in the casket. However, why would you need the same thing for ashes? Ashes are the least like the form of a person remains can take. Not to mention, the idea of cloth and dead people is just icky. I want something solid, like steel or stone to keep dead people away from me. Cloth is airy and porous. I don't want the barrier between me and death to be permeable.