bitterdiva |
|
August 26, 2003Funeral finalityDuring the funeral of an old coworker of mine, I was standing, sitting, or kneeling (depending upon the part of the service that happening) thinking of the overwhelming sorrow I was feeling. The past two ceremonies I attended were unconventional, one was for a child of almost 3 and the other was for my grandmother (a memorial service since the funeral happened in Sin City but her urn was present). For both of those ceremonies I had someone I loved immensely by my side, today was different. And with that thought in mind, I embarked on a torturous contemplative path that one does during times when death is parading in your face. I thought of all the “What if”’s – what happens when my mother dies, or my father; what if my brother or sister should pass on; what do I do if I lose Kris? Part of my sorrow was based on my thought patterns; the other part of my sorrow was not for the deceased but for her family and friends. As Pat put it nicely, it was chain-reaction crying. I saw her adult daughter in the beginning and ending processions crying hysterically and immediately the tear ducts released their grasp and the waterworks started. I felt sorrow for this woman and I felt pity. Her mother was involved in her life more than she probably should have been but now she’s gone and the incomprehensible and irreversible loss was overwhelming. Today I realized that mourning the individual’s loss of life seems pointless. The person no longer suffers from the unrelenting pain that plagued their life for the last several months. Although the heart may stop so does the pain. The faithful rejoice for the belief in life after death eases the grief of life without them. Grateful that the pain is over, I should be celebrating her life not wallowing in the lack thereof. As one of the unfortunate outcomes of taking our first breath in this world, we shall also take our last breath. Unless we’re Bill Gates, because I’m convinced that fucker is never going to die – he shall live forever forcing Microsoft products onto the denizens of the world. Even I will transcend from this earthy plane of existence to my obsidian throne smiting down the cretins. To change the track I somehow switched upon, I take you to here. Two songs that should be banned from Catholic funerals: On Eagle’s Wings and Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace is the ultimate song that no matter what creed it is played to honour the deceased. However, after hearing it performed by a bag piper, organs do it no justice. If this overdone, melancholic song is required to be heard at my farewell party, I hope that someone has the chutzpah to bring in bottles of vodka and a bagpiper. 04:31 PM
CommentsAhhh, a true irish wake/funeral. Everyone should go like that! *reminds me to put that in writing somewhere for when my time comes* Posted by: Groundzero at August 26, 2003 04:50 PM i agree about bagpipes and amazing grace. though i must say that john and i did a bang up job playing it on our kazoos last weekend. maybe if you're lucky, we'll serenade you with it on our way to VT on saturday :) Posted by: mersidotes at August 26, 2003 05:04 PM wind beneath my wings is the song that if is played at my funeral, I will come back and haunt whomever is responsible. Amazing grace is still one of my favorite songs even though I went athiest years ago. I agree it is only properly played on bagpipes. I keep swearing I will learn the bagpipes someday, I'm not sure whether I just like it enough to learn to play them or the fact that they are so bloody loud and to many people annoying that I like em. Posted by: LukEchrm at August 26, 2003 05:13 PM When I die I want my friends to drink... and remember me the next time they shit. Deticate that turd to me. Sorry to hear about such sadness. Posted by: zazen at August 26, 2003 07:40 PM Well put Z Posted by: Groundzero at August 26, 2003 08:27 PM Zazen: you've been with us in spirit lately, Kris' intestinal system has conjured yours and has been fouling the air of Mahar's and the Palace to the likes of you. LukEchrm: I'll learn to play the bagpipes with you, that way we can annoy everyone within a 200 mile radius. Wind beneath my wings is also another one of those songs that must be banned in memorials. I knew I was forgetting one, the only reason I thought of the two songs was that they were played at the funeral. Not only is it sad but it's by Bette Midler, that's a double whammy against it. Posted by: bitterdiva at August 27, 2003 08:17 AM My nominations for songs that should be banned at funerals: I hope you dance gg, Posted by: gg at August 27, 2003 02:13 PM I'm sorry to hear of the sadness that you must have went through mourning your losses. Having said that, I have to disagree and say that my family all agreed to play Amazing Grace at my mom's funeral and we all thought that it was the song that would've made her happy. Her dad was born in Scotland. It was mom's dream to visit there one day, but, she never got the chance to go. We figure that it was the least we could do for her. Mom always loved the bagpipes and just the sound of that song brings tears to my eyes and always brings my mom to my thoughts. It was a wonderful farewell song to a truly great wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Posted by: SnowAngel361 at November 15, 2003 01:03 AM I have no problems with Amazing grace being played as long as it's played with bagpipes, that is the only proper fashion in which it should be played. Posted by: bitterdiva at November 17, 2003 08:29 AM Post a comment
You are not signed in. You need to be registered to comment on this site. Sign in
|
Recent Entries
I got noogied at work Archives
Most Recent |