🫂 Darling Tim 🥺 May you "live long & prosper" but should you pass in MY lifetime, I will salute you from Aotearoa-New Zealand from a beautiful beach with snow covered mountains in the background, and remember all the special moments you and your team brought from Ukraine to the rest of the world under the most difficult of circumstances and in the most perilous of times for your personal safety.
In particular THIS article will be WHY... (and memories of all the Dogs of War you have been associated with from BEFORE The Counteroffensive until these 2 extra cute cuties 💙💛)
Nothing "nice" in today's report. But we have to read it. It's the reality we have to confront and learn from. I did take comfort that there continues to be heroes like Kostia (and Victoria) who stand up and make willing sacrifice for the cause of freedom and justice in Ukraine (and elsewhere). Thank you.
Tears came to my eyes reading this moving account of Kostia's life and how he wanted to be remembered in his death. And the words of this poem came to mind:
I left my home town after college and returned 40 years later. I have four generations of ancestors in the local Jewish cemetery, so I plan to be buried there as well.
Thank you so much, Tanya, for this moving memorial to a few of Ukraine's fallen heroes. This brutal invasion by 💩🥫vile regime will sadly continue to make more heroes, but remembrance is so important. Slava Ukraini ❤️! Personally I'd prefer a forest burial (wicker casket), so that my heavily medicated remains can feed plants, but each to his/her own 😊
May the day come when no more young men die, no more young women are tortured to death, no more children are separated from their families, and when all the perpetrators face justice for their crimes.
A very powerful piece of writing, Tanya. Thank you.
This report really hits home for me. l love how they got Kostia's dream achieved. And it's very similar to what I did for my husband and what my kids are supposed to do for me. Most of Don's ashes are scattered at our favorite remote place near and in water. He's also near our daughter's place along a mountainside river in the Rocky Mountains. He's in the lake near home where we all loved to go out on the boat. So he's with us wherever we go to live and love life.
So it sure, for us, beats taking up space in a coffin in a cemetery. That space is there for those who need it to have peace as they want it.
This is incredibly touching. It’s so warm when a person’s final place is tied to life, love, and nature, rather than just a cold stone. I relate to this idea — to be close to those we love, even after we’re gone
Put in a willow casket and buried in the forest burial site here. I would like to become part of the cycle of decay, eventually to become part of the roots of trees and live in time rather than space.
I could not put it better than Kostia: "don't take up space for me in the cemetery, it's cringe." Neither of my parents were buried, I think we all came to conclusion that when you're gone, there is no need to care for what is left behind. People do that in their hearts, we don't need dirt for that.
I feel the same way. For me, memories and love live in the heart, not in a specific place. The people I love stay with me in moments, in places we shared, and in the life I keep living — not in the ground.
Mom and Dad want to be cremated and not have funerals. Dad’s a third generation American and due to a sibling dispute the graves of his parents are unmarked. His grandparents were born in Lithuania and Croatia and are buried here in the states.
I’ve never made my wishes known to my family. I’m going to assume burial for me as a default. Thinking too deeply about death and mortality can lead to a bit of an emotional shutdown on my part where I just can’t process things.
I get how thinking about death can shut you down emotionally. It’s really heavy. I haven’t talked to my family about my wishes either. You’re not alone in this
🫂 First of all, beautifully & sensitively written & I sobbed my way to the end 🥺 I was so so sad for Kostia & his family, but so uplifted in the way Ukrainians have decided to throw off the Soviet constrictions and grieve/celebrate in their own meaningful ways.💪💙💛 2nd only to peace & full sovereingty over ALL their lands for Ukrainians, I desire that these evil monsters who would traffic children & torture human beings be prosecuted & locked up for the rest of their natural lives! Whether their victims are civilian or military makes no difference to my contempt for them 🤢🤮🤬 . I include in that bombing residential areas, hospitals, targetting rescuers et al because this is also a form of torture & loss - THIS IS A CHOICE TO KILL & MAIM for no valid purpose except avarice for another country's land & resources plus hubris & power 🤬
🤔 For myself, I keep changing my mind about WHERE, but I want to be cremated & my ashes scattered somewhere meaningful to me - unfortunately most family members could not climb the mountain, trek into the wilderness etc to do the deed, so I would be happy with a memorial seat on my favourite walk with the ashes used in the concrete foundations! As I say to them (family who may survive me) "I won't be here - so I won't care!" 😁🤷
Your words really touched me deeply. I relate to the need to say goodbye to loved ones freely, without unnecessary formalities or restrictions. The idea of a memorial bench is simply amazing, so natural and genuine, to leave yourself in a place where you felt good and your soul was joyful. I often think about the same thing, where I would want to be when the time comes
What an amazing report. The Ukrainians appear to be so compassionate to the living and the dead. I try to picture myself sitting on a bus holding my son’s ashes. My heart mourns the loss of her son.
For my part, I’d like to be cremated and scattered at some of the world’s nicest longboard surf spots.
And instead of kvass please serve pho at my memorial. :)
🫂 Darling Tim 🥺 May you "live long & prosper" but should you pass in MY lifetime, I will salute you from Aotearoa-New Zealand from a beautiful beach with snow covered mountains in the background, and remember all the special moments you and your team brought from Ukraine to the rest of the world under the most difficult of circumstances and in the most perilous of times for your personal safety.
In particular THIS article will be WHY... (and memories of all the Dogs of War you have been associated with from BEFORE The Counteroffensive until these 2 extra cute cuties 💙💛)
A story both heartbreaking and inspiring.
An extraordinary human being! Kostia remains a beacon of hope for the whole world!
Thank you so much for his story!!!
Nothing "nice" in today's report. But we have to read it. It's the reality we have to confront and learn from. I did take comfort that there continues to be heroes like Kostia (and Victoria) who stand up and make willing sacrifice for the cause of freedom and justice in Ukraine (and elsewhere). Thank you.
I am going to be cremated and left in one place; my ashes will be used in the making of an underwater reef.
Tears came to my eyes reading this moving account of Kostia's life and how he wanted to be remembered in his death. And the words of this poem came to mind:
"No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee."
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" by John Donne
Slava Kostia!
Slava Ukraini!
I left my home town after college and returned 40 years later. I have four generations of ancestors in the local Jewish cemetery, so I plan to be buried there as well.
You brought me to tears.
Thank you so much, Tanya, for this moving memorial to a few of Ukraine's fallen heroes. This brutal invasion by 💩🥫vile regime will sadly continue to make more heroes, but remembrance is so important. Slava Ukraini ❤️! Personally I'd prefer a forest burial (wicker casket), so that my heavily medicated remains can feed plants, but each to his/her own 😊
May the day come when no more young men die, no more young women are tortured to death, no more children are separated from their families, and when all the perpetrators face justice for their crimes.
A very powerful piece of writing, Tanya. Thank you.
This report really hits home for me. l love how they got Kostia's dream achieved. And it's very similar to what I did for my husband and what my kids are supposed to do for me. Most of Don's ashes are scattered at our favorite remote place near and in water. He's also near our daughter's place along a mountainside river in the Rocky Mountains. He's in the lake near home where we all loved to go out on the boat. So he's with us wherever we go to live and love life.
So it sure, for us, beats taking up space in a coffin in a cemetery. That space is there for those who need it to have peace as they want it.
And beer, please. Or vodka. Or wine. All good.
This is incredibly touching. It’s so warm when a person’s final place is tied to life, love, and nature, rather than just a cold stone. I relate to this idea — to be close to those we love, even after we’re gone
Put in a willow casket and buried in the forest burial site here. I would like to become part of the cycle of decay, eventually to become part of the roots of trees and live in time rather than space.
I could not put it better than Kostia: "don't take up space for me in the cemetery, it's cringe." Neither of my parents were buried, I think we all came to conclusion that when you're gone, there is no need to care for what is left behind. People do that in their hearts, we don't need dirt for that.
I feel the same way. For me, memories and love live in the heart, not in a specific place. The people I love stay with me in moments, in places we shared, and in the life I keep living — not in the ground.
Mom and Dad want to be cremated and not have funerals. Dad’s a third generation American and due to a sibling dispute the graves of his parents are unmarked. His grandparents were born in Lithuania and Croatia and are buried here in the states.
I’ve never made my wishes known to my family. I’m going to assume burial for me as a default. Thinking too deeply about death and mortality can lead to a bit of an emotional shutdown on my part where I just can’t process things.
I get how thinking about death can shut you down emotionally. It’s really heavy. I haven’t talked to my family about my wishes either. You’re not alone in this
🫂 First of all, beautifully & sensitively written & I sobbed my way to the end 🥺 I was so so sad for Kostia & his family, but so uplifted in the way Ukrainians have decided to throw off the Soviet constrictions and grieve/celebrate in their own meaningful ways.💪💙💛 2nd only to peace & full sovereingty over ALL their lands for Ukrainians, I desire that these evil monsters who would traffic children & torture human beings be prosecuted & locked up for the rest of their natural lives! Whether their victims are civilian or military makes no difference to my contempt for them 🤢🤮🤬 . I include in that bombing residential areas, hospitals, targetting rescuers et al because this is also a form of torture & loss - THIS IS A CHOICE TO KILL & MAIM for no valid purpose except avarice for another country's land & resources plus hubris & power 🤬
🤔 For myself, I keep changing my mind about WHERE, but I want to be cremated & my ashes scattered somewhere meaningful to me - unfortunately most family members could not climb the mountain, trek into the wilderness etc to do the deed, so I would be happy with a memorial seat on my favourite walk with the ashes used in the concrete foundations! As I say to them (family who may survive me) "I won't be here - so I won't care!" 😁🤷
Your words really touched me deeply. I relate to the need to say goodbye to loved ones freely, without unnecessary formalities or restrictions. The idea of a memorial bench is simply amazing, so natural and genuine, to leave yourself in a place where you felt good and your soul was joyful. I often think about the same thing, where I would want to be when the time comes
What an amazing report. The Ukrainians appear to be so compassionate to the living and the dead. I try to picture myself sitting on a bus holding my son’s ashes. My heart mourns the loss of her son.