Have you ever noticed that laughter has a way of bubbling up when you are supposed to be at your most solemn?
I don’t belive that you must go to a wake or a funeral with a grief-stricken face. I personally feel that we go to celebrate our friend who has passed on, and for many people, that celebration has to include funny memories.
The man who did the eulogy for my step-son was his childhood friend. We laughed a lot at the stories he had to tell. We could easily imagine the youthful hi-jinks that went on from the tales he shared.
I’d rather have a speaker dwell on the good, and the funny memories, than feel it’s inappropriate to lighten the somber air of the day. I think that it’s natural to feel the laughter, and that it shouldn’t be suppressed but rather, encouraged.
Yes, we feel grief at our loss. Yes, at times we express it in a solemn way, but I’d rather be remembered in a positive or a funny way, if you give me a choice. And that’s how I choose to remember my step-son.
So, the next time you’re at a funeral, and a bubble of laughter is threatening to well up within you, please grin, and say a prayer for my kid.
Daily Archives: January 9, 2006
Thanks
I want you to know how much I’ve appreciated all your kind comments on the previous entries of this blog. One of the things I’ve discovered in the past few days is that the empathy your friends feel for you, helps you through tough times. Even when there is nothing concrete a friend can do, just knowing that friends are there seems to make it easier to accomplish what needs to be done.
So……Thank you. Thanks for being there for me.
Almost There
We came home today from Florida, following the wake for our son. I’ll have more to write about that later in the week, but I can tell you that I was astounded at the number of people who came to pay their respects. Not just family mourned, but friends, co-workers, and business acquaintances. There were employers, employees, and previous employees, his Realtor, fellow Bears fans, people from six or eight charities, and golfers.
My stepson liked people, and he wanted to see them excel. Over and over I heard “passion” and “excellence.” “Leadership” was another word we heard frequently.
Tomorrow there will be a wake for him in the town where he grew up, and Wednesday morning we will make the trip to the cemetery.
My step-son was an amazing man, and I’ll miss him.