Now we're going to set the features, says Theo. He lifts one of the man's eyelids and packs tufts of cotton underneath to fill out the lid the way the man's eyeballs once did. Oddly, the culture I associate most closely with cotton, the Egyptians, did not use their famous Egyptian cotton for plumping out withered eyes. The ancient Egyptians put pearl onions in there. Onions. Speaking for myself, if I had to have a small round martini garnish inserted under my eyelids, I would go with olives.
Theo is preparing the features of a deceased man by lifting his eyelid and placing cotton inside to create a natural appearance. This method differs significantly from the ancient Egyptian practice, where they used pearl onions for the same purpose instead of cotton. The comparison highlights the variation in cultural practices related to death and preservation.
The author, Mary Roach, humorously reflects on this by considering what she would prefer if given the choice for such a procedure. Instead of onions, she suggests olives as a quirky alternative for under the eyelids, showcasing her light-hearted take on an otherwise serious subject of anatomy and funeral customs.
