Wakes and Wishes

[woodwardiocom]

-Last weekend, Bey/buxom_bey and I flew to Florida for her grandfather's wake. I didn't know him too well, but the few times I met him I found him a good host, a quick wit, and a fine cook. He'll be missed.

-The service provided by the funeral home was . . . eh, tepid. Pre-packaged. It definitely made me want to plan my service out in advance. In particular, the readings. I think I'd like any of my friends who want to say something, but can't think of anything to say, to pick quotes from some of my favorite books (and movies) out of a hat . . .

To die would be an awfully big adventure.

—Peter Pan
 

Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path . . . One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all changes to silver glass . . . And then you see it.
Pippin: What? Gandalf? . . . See what?
Gandalf: White shores . . . and beyond. The far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: . . . Well, that isn't so bad.
Gandalf: No . . . No it isn't.

—The Return of the King (the movie, paraphrased from the book)
 

When their loved ones died, a believer would arise beside the grave to be the Speaker for the Dead, and say what the dead one would have said, but with full candor, hiding no faults and pretending no virtues. Those who came to the services sometimes found them painful and disturbing, but there were many who decided that their life was worthwhile enough, despite their errors, that when they died a Speaker should tell the truth for them.

—Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game
 

Death is a clearing at the end of the path.

—Stephen King, The Dark Tower

(And, I want Amazing Grace, on bagpipes. Live bagpipes, not a recording! And then a Mardis Gras-style party, like Data threw for Geordi and Ro.)

Comments

[jencallisto]

mrph. now i've got Amazing Grace stuck in my head. yes, on bagpipes. though occasionally i slip into the words without realizing... but still with bagpipe intonation! it's quite strange.

[patricksmalone.livejournal.com]

My father's funeral, last Saturday, had Amazing Grace on bagpipes. Very nice.

The piper played laments outside the church as people were filing in, then at the end of the service he played Amazing Grace to lead the ashes down the aisle.

It was a good thing.

[(Anonymous)]

The description at the end of RotK, which is basically an echo of the one you quoted, has always moved me deeply.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

That was me. I guess my roommate logged me out. I need to create a guest account on this machine until she gets a new one.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

has always moved me deeply.

-Yah, I'm not entirely certain if I want the books version or the movie version, but it's not like I have to decide today . . .

LotR quote at eulogy

[(Anonymous)]

You only get that eulogy from Lord Of The Rings if you are killed by a cave troll, like Pippin feared he was going to be.
--Nathaniel

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

(And, I want Amazing Grace, on bagpipes. Live bagpipes, not a recording! And then a Mardis Gras-style party, like Data threw for Geordi and Ro.)

Yes! Yes! I've said the same for YEARS. Bagpipes AND Mardi Gras! We should have a joint-funeral. PAR-TAY!!!

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

We should have a joint-funeral.

-If you promise to wear the outfit in this icon, I'll see what I can do . . .

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

I was just trying to match YOUR icon. Mrrrrrow.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

[smile] You're so good for my ego . . .

[superfinemind.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm... My favorite Card quotation on death required a little more context, but was from Shadow of the Hegemon: "He lay back and thought about love and life and loss and death. And he thought he could feel his bones grow."

Amazing Grace on bagpipes: anything else is a shoddy imitation! (Though the most recent instance in the family collection is fifes and drums with bagpipes added in around the second verse and pretty neat.)

When it's my time, I want to be sky-buried.

[drwex]

I don't have any good death quotes, sadly. Yours are nice.

I've got just three requests:
- Burial, no burning.
- Play Box of Rain, I don't care who or how.
- Tombstone must read "And now for something _completely_ different."

[keyne.livejournal.com]

- Play Box of Rain, I don't care who or how.

I wouldn't mind that myself...

[dimers.livejournal.com]

Gonna put this in your 'memories', in case it actually becomes useful?

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I heartily recommend sketching out plans for your funeral. Helps the survivors stumble through the tons of little decisions after your death with at least the small comfort that they can honor your wishes in some of the last things they can do for your earthly being. I love that Speaker for the Dead excerpt. (it was from a different book than Ender's Game, wasn't it?)

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-Nope, it's from Ender's Game.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

oh ok...thanks for fixing my memory