OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To

Subject: Best Damm Wake You Been To
From: Beer
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 08:45 PM

The Irish way is probably the best in my books, but in the North American society that we live in, there are to many obsticals. Like the church or other close relatives who wouldn't agree with going out in a party atmosphere. Here is my story with no wake per say. My father in-law passed away last February. Family and friends gathered in the small country church told stories about his life ( funny ones ). Had pictures displayed and slide show ( Pictures were not only of him but of his friends as well.). Food,and a little acoustic playing on the guitar was also present. There was no booze. Some of us did a little nipping later. I guess you could say this was the wake. However, what impressed me even more was when spring arrived we went to his favoriate spot in the woods (sugar bush), dug a hole, spread his ashes,then planted a Crimson Maple Tree. Now for someone who loves the woods. Maybe would agree with what took place, but I'm sure there are a number of mudcaters out there who would feel upset. To them, my apoligies

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Amos
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 08:48 PM

Beer --

What's to get upset about? Good way to deal with ashes, i'd say.

A

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: MMario
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 08:52 PM

sounds good to me

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been tTo
From: Beer
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 09:01 PM

Not a thing. In fact I want to be there as well.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 09:18 PM

Not all churches frown on family observances! *G*

~S~

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: DougR
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 10:19 PM

Beer: that sounds like a pretty damn good wat to do it to me. I guess the best Wake I ever attended was for my best friend who died in October, 98. I delivered the eulogy, which was no fun, of course, but after the memorial service, everbody went to a nearby resort and we had a helluva party. Booze, food, everything. Shrimp the size of your hand, hot and cold food. The bill was $10,000 but that was what he wanted and it was a first-class wake. I'm just glad I didn't have to pay the bill!

DougR

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Amos
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 10:41 PM

We raised a large tent in a little grassy field across the brook, which was lower than the bank on which the house stood -- you could look up from the big ttent and see the house above you about 100 yards across and up.

Dixieland from a live band played as hundreds of her friends wandered down to the bridge, over and back into the clearing. They sat on rented chairs under this high white tent, in the middle of greensward in a clearing where deers usually come out of the woods to nibble.

One by one they said whatever they could say in praise of a free spirit, a grand dame of sorts, a big heart, a maker of lives. I sang for them -- "His Eye Is on the Sparrow", which she had always loved. And "Finnegan's Wake" which was her favorite song of all time, but by then I was so broken up I dropped a whole verse. I am not sure anyone noticed.

After all those eulogies, a single trumpet player stepped out on the high bank across the creek and played the longest, sweetest Taps anyone had ever heard, and long echoing bell tones caught the rill of the brook running down to the sound ad drifted that way, too.

There was a short pause, and the other sidemen came out, and in a few minutes the brassy beat of The Saints came galloping out over the assembled guests' heads, over the creek waters, over the great sadness, and we all turned and strolled back to the house to that wonderful rhythm.

It was the kind of "So long, Mom!" she would have loved.

A

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 10:44 PM

Buried my friends mum yesterday. Had a bad day today--lots of different bads. Played nursing home tonight, bawled while playing. Maybe when I can stop bawling I will tell you about my favorite wake.......can't just now.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 12:41 AM

Interesting subject. About two years ago, my older brothers best buddy died. At the service, my bro was pretty broken up, so I sorta stood in for him. It was a service in a funeral chapel, not a church. After the euligies, the son of the deceased walked to the open casket and placed a bottle of scotch in the arms of his Father. He then invited us up to share a final drink. No one moved, so I stood up and walked up to the casket, took the bottle, opened it, gave a toast and took a swig. Then one by one, others came up and did the same, including finally my bro. It was a very moving and fitting farewell ... and I HATE scorch!. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Amos
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 08:37 AM

Bob, bravely done; you made the ultimate sacrifice!! ;>) And I want you to know I would do the same for you, if the chips ever got to that point!

A

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 08:54 AM

My family does memorial services, which are really celebrations of the life of the deceased. One I remember in particular, for a very punny friend of ours who died of AIDS... people were telling stories of bad puns he had told, and I got to tell the story of the time he went through this long shaggy dog story about me making tea out of koalas and serving it with little bits of fur in it, since "the koala tea of Mrrzy is not strained" - And I hadn't read Shakespeare yet and didn't get it! He was SO mad. It's still one of my favorite memories of him. I have, however, attended funerals on my children's side of the family, and they always seemed very anthropological to me.. "it's not my tribe" kind of stuff. Seeing the actual dead body seems incredibly bizarre to me, although I understand (intellectually) that folks who are used to funerals probably consider us cold or something for NOT having the person whose life is being celebrated present... De gustibus disputandum non est all over again.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Best Damm Wake you Been To
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 10:11 AM

Pat Scrases.
she was editor of Folkwrite (out now free!)
some went back to the family home I got attached to the crowd at the Plough and we supped and we joked & supped & quipped and suddenly someone said "You know Pat would have loved it, being here today!"
many cases of ROTFLMAO.