Death and Taxes Part I
Friday morning was the day for funeral of the husband of the lady I work closely with. I felt kind of bad that I could not make the visitation the night before, but my son is lonely and I needed to feed him too.
I still don’t want to go the funeral. Its just my nature. If the wrong thing happens I’ll cry like a baby. I’m the same way at weddings. Hell I cried three times when I watched the last Star Wars movie. It’s just me. My feminine side arrives at times like these.
They closed the office and I drove over to one of the local Methodist churches. Parking lot was pretty crowded. The deceased was part of the emergency response team from Dow Chemical. They had folks from as far away as California volunteer to cover the positions of his coworkers so they could attend the funeral. Lots of people showed up and his family was also huge. His wife seemed strong considering she just lost her husband. I recognized a lot of the faces from photos in her office. I sat down and listened to the music and read his obituary.
After I finished reading I thought about where I was and what I was doing. I felt more out of place in this little town, where everyone else seems to know each other. This unfortunate event has inspired me more deeply to get my business working and stay close to my own home and the poeple I know.
Other thoughts led me to think about my own death. I’m pretty sure I have already lived more than half my life. All the bad habits I had in my younger days cannot contribute to a long life. So while sitting there I thought, what songs do I want my friends and family to listen to at my funeral? Let me also qualify that I do not want anyone singing at my funeral. If they could find a good organist like I am accustomed to hearing at Berachah Church that would be good.
The songs I want played are, and in this order:
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Dixie
Dog Face Soldier (This is the song of the US Army Infantryman)
Far Far Away (Bagpipes would be nice)
Yellow Rose of Texas
Star Spangled Banner (Everyone will stand and may sing this song only)
When they wheel me out after the memorial service I request they play:
Amazing Grace
Beethoven’s Song of Joy
The only person that needs to speak during the service is the pastor. Anyone that feels they have to cry out amen will be slapped. That’s so hokey. I’m not going to tell the pastor how to do his job. But want folks to understand that I will have achieved victory over death and that’s all I want people to understand. I’ll be in heaven having a good time talking with people I have not seen in years or read about in history books and the Bible. I hope to see you all when it is your time to shed your soul from this clay and join the light.
August 3rd, 2005 at 9:01 am
I have always thought I would like ot have the song “the wings on a sparrow” sung at mine/ I’m not sure if I have the title exactly correct, but it has the line in it “I sing b/c I am happy..” I liem the idea of the Star Spangled Banner, Battle Hymn and Amazing grace being played too!
August 3rd, 2005 at 9:24 am
I really would like all four verses of the Star Spangled Banner. Most people only know the first, though favorite verse is the fourth.
August 3rd, 2005 at 2:51 pm
I’d kinda like a dixieland band walking behind my hearse. But I think they only do that for fellow musicians.
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:12 pm
You get enough money to pay for the band and they’ll do it.