Let's just say that this was a very full and also a very odd day. This morning looked at an apartment with Gary and second son for him to possibly rent when there's an opening. Took 4th son to the dental school, which took 3-1/2 hours. Was briefly at home before having to leave for the funeral of our friend who died on Sunday.
P.U.
And let me say that I sometimes feel I've heard just about everything. Huh. Joke's definitely on me. They were playing rock music at the funeral home during the visitation, and actually with the way we generally dress, Gary and I fitted in really well with the other jean-clad, braided hair, Gary wearing jeans---me having a braid. ;) Sort of the groovy crowd.
Anyway, I digress. This was one unusual funeral, and I'm not making fun. It was just different. No hymns, but Elvis and Joni Mitchell, which is fine, just a bit out of the ordinary. We read the 23rd Psalm together, surprising me considering their desire to not have a religious service. Well, the dynamics changed when the hired preacher talked about our neighbor like he was filling in the blanks. He literally went on and on, obviously not knowing James, but to give him credit, was likely doing his best considering the strange circumstances.
He kept going for a bit, then James' sister stood up and told him to stop. Almost hollered. Stood there and told the preacher, (if he was a preacher---most likely just the guy at the funeral home who leads the services when there's nobody else to do it) to be quiet. "Yes ma'am," he says to her and sits right down.
Silence. Deep silence. Then they begin the Joni Mitchell version of 'Amazing Grace.' No prayer, just the end. We left, not wanting to hear anyone rehash the shambles this service was, and were so relieved to get home.
The. Oddest. Funeral. Ever. One of our sons said that in hearing us talk about it, he was reminded of the hired preachers that would give an off-the-cuff speech over a gunfighter in a western movie. Exactly. All I could think of while we were there was a running phrase of 'make it stop' going through my head.
The End.
