Second time around

The main difference between a hundred day memorial service for the dead and the funeral itself is actually very small, my student told me. In each case there is the three thousand dollars for the prayers of the monk and six hundred dollars for the food – a whole pig, a whole duck, and a lot else besides, as she said – but at least the second time around there is no expense on the coffin. And neither is there anything to be decided about the disposal of the dead.