The Funeral Business

Just got back from my uncle's Buddhist funeral. I think it's kind of sad how this sort of funeral nowadays has become so commercialized - it takes all the meaning away from it. When you see them packing up the wake by crumpling up the calligraphy banners, ripping off velcro-ed yellow tablecloths, folding up the tables, rolling up the yellow blinds and packing up the portable toilet... there's an air of repetitive boredom about the whole business. It's as if they're saying, "Whoo... one down. Another hundred thousand to go." There's no sense of concern or sympathy - essentially you feel like they've just placed a price tag on your uncle's cremation proceedings. Push the coffin into the numbered (3) blast furnace - ok, that's it. $8,000. Next, please. I find it discouraging, personally... but maybe that's just me. Oh well.

In other news, I found out as I was coming home today that my concession for public transport has expired. I had to pay a whole SIXTY-FOUR CENTS (!!!) from the temple at Bishan to my house! Scandalous!

Hm. So much for implying that I wouldn't have any time for blogging in July.