About a year and a half ago, a friend and fellow musician, dearly loved within the Irish music community round here (and by the surrounding community as well), was brutally murdered in her own bed. It was a terrible time, the worst kind of shock imaginable.

Her memorial service, however, was a memory that'll never fade. Hundreds came to say farewell. All her musician friends sat up front behind the pastor. In the center was a chair, empty save for her instrument and a framed photo.

Periodically throughout the service we played one or another set of tunes. When all was over, we played the mourners out the door. The music was powerful, especially considering that we were all weeping copiously.

Later we had her wake, a kitchen session with just the musicians and some of the family. The music poured forth till the wee hours.

That's how I'd like it for myself--let my friends say goodbye with the tunes (and the company) I loved in life. I'll listen hard for them.

Jenny