Neal's Wiki Will & Testament

This one's a work in progress. Nevetheless, some quickies:

End of Life Issues

• Don't pull the plug if my brain's still active, unless it becomes a financial burden. I'm also not a fan of excessive use of painkillers--sometimes pain & struggle is what keeps a person going. Most of all, I want to keep living if there is a glimmer of hope.

If death has happened or is inevitable

• My primary preference is to be cryogenically frozen, through ALCOR or a similar reputable organization. I realize this is expensive, and I do not want it do be done at the expense of my family's financial security. However, I currently have two different life insurance policies: One through the PCUSA, and one supplemental through Duchouquette & Associates (and possibly a 3rd via the Sawyers?). If one of these will take care of my family and the other can be used (by designating ALCOR as beneficiary, for example) for cryogenics...then freeze me, and I'll see you in a century or two.
• If cryogenically freezing my body is not possible, then please consider the following:
  • I'm very much against the idea of cremation and organ donation--since I'm still holding out hope for an actual bodily resurrection at some point in the distant future. Please leave the future scientists (aka "agents of God") as much to work with as possible. The only exception I'd make to this is if someone close to me that I love has a compelling need for one of my organs in order to live.
  • I do NOT want an expensive coffin. Cheap, unpolished or unfinished wood. Like my Dad's. If possible and practical, use one of these. It's a simple rectangular one made by trappist cistercian monks at New Melleray in Iowa.
  • If you can avoid going through a funeral home for all the arrangements, please do. If you can't, then get the 'bare minimum.' No deluxe package for me!
  • Please don't wear a suit to my memorial service unless you just feel like you have to. Jeans, t-shirts, sandals, baseball caps, shorts -- all these are preferable. Be comfortable.
  • If you have to dress me up, at least put me in a bow-tie. One of my favorite ones.
  • It would be awesome to play a few of my songs at my memorial service. Not that I'll know if you don't.
  • In a memorial service, please try to avoid attributing theologies to me that I did not espouse in life. For more about what I believe when it comes to the afterlife, see Notes on Heaven and Hell.
  • Toss a copy of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath in the casket, and maybe one of my favorite beers, too. It's not superstitious, just a nice symbolic touch.
  • A virtual funeral in Second Life would be really cool. Bury me under the monastery microbrewery?
  • Bury me in El Paso, maybe Santa Teresa close to Grandpa Ruben. If not there, then in Austin, close to my Dad. Most importantly...wherever my children can easily visit.
  • If it's financially possible and not a burden, please don't shut down my blogs, wikis, social network profiles and other web presences. Or at least print them out. It might be the best way for my children (or grandchildren) to get to know me someday.
  • Also, there's a lot of stuff on my thumbdrives and memory cards that is part of who I am.
• If my children can't get to know me, I want them to get to know Jeff and Joe. That's the closest thing.
• If you want to honor my memory:
  • Use Open Source Software. It's better anyhow.
  • Listen to Woody Guthrie. What he has to say still matters.
  • Read a Book. Better yet, read a book to a child.
  • Give to the poor. Feed the Hungry. Care for the sick.

See you again soon.