Antithesis (The Funeral Entry)
I don't remember if I've blogged this or not, but here I go anyway.
I recently attended a funeral, and it got me thinking. This is practically the opposite of what I'd like at my funeral I thought. I want my friends and family to get together and remember the good times, and make more memories with eachother, not stand around and mope, mourning me. Mourn if you want, but know that if I were there, I'd be chatting and laughing and talking, perhaps even some dancing.
Though, when I think about the other funerals I have attended, I realize that I'm right there among the mourning. Except at neonphog's grandfather's funeral, though that was more of a wake, I think. That event was almost exactly what I'd want at my funeral. The family reserved the "house" at Maple Grove Park* and had tables set up around the inside with almost a time line of his life. Tables were also set up for guests to sit and eat and talk with eachother, and a buffet was set out. Kleenex boxes were scattered throughout the room for those, like myself, who needed to cry, and plenty of napkins were on hand. As I watched, I noticed the family were all mostly jovial, laughing and chatting and remembering the good times. It hadn't hit me until then that he was really gone. I said I wasn't among the mourning at this event because, it seemed, there weren't any mourners besides me.
So, what I'd like is a party. A friendly, jovial gathering to remember and celebrate my life and what I'd accomplished. Not a depressing conglomeration of people remembering me and thinking about their regrets, that they didn't do something [with|for|to] me. I want snacks and maybe a small buffet, a luncheon perhaps. Baloons, no flowers. Why do people bring flowers to a funeral anyway? I don't want it held in anything resembling a church. I want to be cremated and my urn on display. Party games, maybe. And definately a "Take a Bite out of [Life|Death]" cake. *grin*
I recently attended a funeral, and it got me thinking. This is practically the opposite of what I'd like at my funeral I thought. I want my friends and family to get together and remember the good times, and make more memories with eachother, not stand around and mope, mourning me. Mourn if you want, but know that if I were there, I'd be chatting and laughing and talking, perhaps even some dancing.
Though, when I think about the other funerals I have attended, I realize that I'm right there among the mourning. Except at neonphog's grandfather's funeral, though that was more of a wake, I think. That event was almost exactly what I'd want at my funeral. The family reserved the "house" at Maple Grove Park* and had tables set up around the inside with almost a time line of his life. Tables were also set up for guests to sit and eat and talk with eachother, and a buffet was set out. Kleenex boxes were scattered throughout the room for those, like myself, who needed to cry, and plenty of napkins were on hand. As I watched, I noticed the family were all mostly jovial, laughing and chatting and remembering the good times. It hadn't hit me until then that he was really gone. I said I wasn't among the mourning at this event because, it seemed, there weren't any mourners besides me.
So, what I'd like is a party. A friendly, jovial gathering to remember and celebrate my life and what I'd accomplished. Not a depressing conglomeration of people remembering me and thinking about their regrets, that they didn't do something [with|for|to] me. I want snacks and maybe a small buffet, a luncheon perhaps. Baloons, no flowers. Why do people bring flowers to a funeral anyway? I don't want it held in anything resembling a church. I want to be cremated and my urn on display. Party games, maybe. And definately a "Take a Bite out of [Life|Death]" cake. *grin*