The funeral made me happy!

So, I went to a funeral this morning. It was for the father of the director of my school. He was ancient. Anyway, while he was lying in the box, and all the people were coming up to pay their respects, this really ancient, yoda looking guy came up and knelt there having a full-on conversation with him.
He was reminiscing about all the good old days and laughing, telling little one-liners, giving good advice for the afterlife. It was one of the most touching scenes I've ever witnessed. I couldn't stop smiling.
When really old people die after full lives, it should be a happy occasion, don't you think?

 

That's beautiful.

I agree.

It disturbs me to see people mourning. That's the opposite of what I think a funeral should be about.

It's all about celebrating the person's life.

 

It's kinda funny how Irish funerals are almost always bittersweet. I mean there's crying and all but it usually ends up in a huge drunk party, sing-song, story-telling shenanigan. At least all the ones that I've been to.

What's the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish funeral?





One less drunk.

 

Hah.

I was actually picturing the scene from "Snatch" after Mickey's mother dies in the fire in her trailer as I was writing my last post. The bittersweet aspect is fascinating.

 

Well, the funeral this morning was my first experience here in Thailand. I don't know if they are always like that or if it was just cos he was so old.

 

exactly.

Death is an essential part of life, its the only thing we are absolutely assured after we are born. To be upset that the inevitable happened is absurd. Yes, CELEBRATE the life that has now passed... there is nothing to be sad about, death is not bad, its just change.

 

Another sorta weird thing that they did was everybody who attended the funeral made a donation to the family to help with the costs. I thought that was pretty sweet too.

 

wow I love that story, it's so beautiful

I used to always say to my mom that when I died I wanted everyone to be wearing colors in my funeral and they should be playing music. She got angry with all the dead talk, I did talked about it a lot and said that she's supposed to die before me, so to not be telling her that. I said that you never know and I always had this feeling like I was going to die young. It comes and goes.
But yes to happy funerals!
WHenever I went to funerals here, I never got sad and I wouldnt cry, because to my understanding death isnt a bad thing. When I was a lot younger it never made sense to me when I saw all the church goers, hard core religious people crying. I was like but they are in heaven, arent you suppose to be glad?

 

The crying isn't really an expression of sorrow for the person as much as an expression of the mourners sorrow at being left behind.

Anyway, I'm going back there now for a huge lunch and then the cremation...Maybe that will be a bit more sad, I dunno.

 

I know, I just didnt understand that as a kid. I mean I did, but I saw it as selfish. I mean I know there are some people that if they die I would be terribly sad about, but I also know some others that they just cry whenever ANYONE they know dies. I guess that maybe they are emphatetic to other's people sorrow.

 

Yeah, even as a kid I never got into the crying thing.
I never really understood those groups of rent-a-mourners, any occasion to shed a tear. But hey, the world has space for us all, I suppose.

 

selfish is the perfect word for it...

who are you to want to deny someone's destiny because you want them to stick around...

 

I cried my eyes out as a kid (6) when my mom died... I was lost, and in that situation its understandable

But as an adult with the full ability to ask and answer WHY... coupled with an understanding of life and death, how can you allow for such sorrow in a time that may be interpreted as joyous?

 

finally i have fellows who believe it is a selfish act to because its a sorrow of something THEY lost in their lives when they should be happy for them fulfilling their lives...i used to rant about this at dinner tables and everyone thought i was like the "confused kid"...pisses me off...whenever somebody dies i smile and simply say "so it goes" (that comes from kurt vonnegut)

 

It's not really denying someone's destiny just to miss them. People usually get over it after a while, but it's perfectly normal to be sad for a little while.
I wouldn't call it exactly selfish. Selfish would be to conduct a resurrection, and nobody's going to do that.
I understand why you're saying what you're saying, but I think you're being just a tiny bit harsh on someone for shedding a few tears because someone special to them died. Most people do realize it was their time..
Jewish people have Shivas, which is kinda like a party for the dead person. There's much laughter (in respectful remembrance of good times), and some tears. It truly is bittersweet.

 

That sounds like a cute, sweet scene. It's better this way, than start whining and crying...

 

That is amazing. When a good friend of the family died, after the wake, we all sat around and reminisced about the little things he'd do and the way he drove and all the good times. We laughed for hours upon hours about all of the memories with this man. There were tears, but for the most part, it was a happy occasion-he wasn't suffering any longer and he imprinted our minds and hearts.

 

I've been dying to meet a wanker like you all week. I have a lot of pent up aggression just waiting for somebody whose mouth is bigger than their brain.

The internet is useful like that, no?

 

That's exactly where the similarities between us end.

 

not as weak as your sister's protests