Wired to the End

I was listening to the radio yesterday and heard a story about a growing trend that started around six years ago, where young people (under 40) are being buried with their cell phones and other technical gadgets, like blackberries and iPods. One guy was even buried with his Game Boy!

At first, this just sounded crazy bizarre to me. But, maybe being buried with your fave tech device isn't as strange as it sounds? Maybe it's just a custom that represents the times in which we live and how our society is evolving. I know that the custom of burying people with favorite or sentimental items, even with their pets, has been practiced since the dawn of time, so why not a cell phone?

When I think of burial customs and the practice of being buried with artifacts or objects, the ancient Egyptians come to mind. Interestingly, if you study ancient Egyptian civilization, you'll find that there was not just one, but several burial customs practiced throughout the history of Egypt. The items that were buried with the dead varied for each of the 13 periods. It seems that as Egyptian society changed and evolved, the things that mattered, the things that were important or thought to be indispensable for the afterlife, also changed and evolved. The things that were buried with the departed were thought to be needed for daily use in the afterlife, such as vessels for food and jewelry for status. It was generally believed that the afterlife was a mirror of life here on Earth.

So, the idea of being buried with one's cell phone was actually starting to make a lot of sense to me. Especially when you think about what a huge part of our lives and our society cell phones and other tech devices have become. We are a gadget-dependent, techno-centric society, that's for sure. Have you ever been in a situation and thought, "How did I ever live without my cell phone?". I certainly have, on more than on occasion, and I'm not all that into cell phones. Can you imagine how much more importance teenagers and young adults who have grown up in the technology age place on these devices? These are kids who have never even seen a rotary phone or observed the solemn waving of the flag when the T.V. signs off for the night.

So, what does being buried with your cell phone really symbolize? We know it's a trend that represents how our culture has evolved. But, is it also a way for the dead to feel that they are still connected to the living? Or, maybe it's just a way for those of us who are left behind to feel comforted at the loss of a loved one? So, I asked myself. Could I take any comfort in being buried with my cell phone or knowing that loved ones were buried with their cell phones? And, I came to this conclusion. There will be no cell phones accompanying me when I go gently into that good night. And, I would appreciate it greatly if none of my loved ones ask to be buried with their cell phones. As heartless as it may seem, I have no plans to call the cell phone of any loved ones who have been buried with theirs. And, if any of the dearly departed plan on calling me, I hope they'll understand if I let that call roll over to voice mail.

Posted at 01:02PM Jan 07, 2009 by Juanita Heieck in Personal  |