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Laughing at Funerals
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Laughing at Funerals |
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Carolina Member
since 2001-08-17
Posts 224Myrtle Beach, SC 
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Sitting in the church with my family all around brought back memories for both of us as we watched familiar faces pass by. We sat side by side and tried to place names to eyes we once knew that were now wearing wrinkled bodies. You told of how you could remember how hard it was to keep me sitting still in these pews. You remembered how I would always seem to plop down fast so that my Sunday dress would billow in a circle and layers of my satin and lace would patiently wait for my tiny hands to straighten them out, smoothing the edges, only for me to start squirming again. My white patent shoes would sing as I rubbed them together against the back of the pew ahead of me. Now, you watch as I plop down from exhaustion and give you a knowing look, as I try to keep two boys in white starched dress shirts and hear their complaints of their ties and jackets being too hot and too tight. I'm not sure if God throws us humour in unlikely places, knowing that only you and I would appreciate them, but we seem to find laughter among the sadness. You remind me of Grandaddy's funeral, and how my Aunt, in her soft, southern voice, tried to calm those that walked by the casket for a glimpse of what used to be my Grandaddy. You and I were the only ones within hearing distance that heard her ask the old man, "Doesn't he look natural?" We burst out in laughter as he answered, "He looks dead to me." You let me bury my head in your chest as we both pretended to be crying as all the heads turned toward us from the hearing the muffled giggles. I remember your call to me in Texas, after Uncle Ronald's funeral, assurance that everyone made it through, and knowing that I would laugh at how the preacher got his name mixed up with my other Uncle, the one still living,giving him somewhat of a phobia at hearing his funeral before he was dead. Somehow, among all the sorrow, pain and grief, God always throws us something to smile at. You wasted no time getting to the hospital the day my youngest one had emergency surgery. You found the humour in his oldest brother hitting him accidently with the golf club. Changing my tears of pain into tears from laughing too hard, and sending the nurses running into the room, thinking I was sobbing at his bedside. I try to swallow the lump that builds in my throat, and tears flow down my cheeks as you bend over to hand me your tissue. You put your arms around me as those familiar strangers pass by us to offer condolences to each family member. You struggle to find the words to comfort me, and tell me that my Uncle is in a better place now, without pain. I'm glad you couldn't read my mind. My Uncle was the fartherest from my thoughts at that moment. You've always been there to get me through rough times. You always told me you'd rather make me laugh, than to make me cry. I'm not looking forward to the day that I have to sit in those same pews without you, Daddy. I'll always try to listen for the laughter among the sadness. [This message has been edited by Carolina (08-04-2003 09:05 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Lisa - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
yes'm always something to smile at... like I can at you! thought you'd fly this underneath the radar huh?  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
yeah, but she didn't... Carolina...this is wonderful. Thank you. I've had a few giggles at funerals, and tears at weddings...go figure... |
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Carolina Member
since 2001-08-17
Posts 224Myrtle Beach, SC |
They're pretty much the same, aren't they, Sunshine? Weddings and funerals.. someone's life has ended. LOL j/k Thank you, LR. I can never be too serious, even when I'm supposed to be! |
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