In last week’s issue of
Thinking for a Change, I quoted Garrison Keillor who
said, “They say such nice things at funerals that it makes me sad to realize
I’m going to miss mine by just a few days.”
I didn’t have time to
expound in that issue, but I’ve planned my ending celebration, telling my kids
what they need to do. Ever since I read the article that explained that you
could have your ashes placed into fireworks, I knew I was going to go out of
this world with a bang! The good news is that we have an understanding – not to
mention adventurous - friend who is licensed to pack and set off fireworks.
(This is definitely not a do-it-yourself project!)
There are so many things in
life that are embedded with deeply set patterns and feelings that we don’t even
consider that we could change both. Don’t misunderstand. There is great comfort
in ritual, but even rituals started because someone did something new that
others decided to imitate. Over time, the imitation of a good idea became a
must-do pattern. What started as an innovation became a fashion, then an
accepted practice, until finally institutionalized as a ritual. Interesting
concept – rituals were born from change.
Back to my funeral. I see
friends gathered in a field under a dark sky. Music playing – probably Keep Me
In Your Heart by Warren Zevon. At the perfect moment, there will
be a soft sound – the first launch – and a rocket will take flight, silence, a
fountain of yellow will spill from the sky and those gathered will say, Ooooooh,
Ahaaaa.
See Garrison, maybe you can
know what they’ll say.
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