Once, I opined to my brother in an e-mail that, at my funeral, I would like to have the song "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" from Guys and Dolls, with full cast and costume. (My son--singing son--feels that's inappropriate, but I don't--check out the lyrics. I also want parts of the Brahms German Requiem, with a big old choir. I'm going to leave it to others to work out the details of that.)
However, when I suggested to my brother that he should help secure the choir, costumes, etc. for the musical portion of my funeral, he had this to say:
"I already have your funeral planned out. Your casket will be next to the slurpee and popcorn machines. We will be listening to Slaughter and Twisted Sister from the CD "Monster Ballads" available from K-Tel."
I like my idea better, but I'm open, I guess. Not that I'll be around to, you know, eat popcorn or tear up at Slaughter or anything. I'm going to have to think about whose hands into which I should entrust this sacred matter. I do, however, like the idea of an event that I have sort of planned but that I'm not actually in charge of anymore--when you're dead, you actually do have to let go of things. Well, some things, anyway. We'll see how good I am at letting go when I'm dead.
But I'm telling you, that song from Guys and Dolls would make a hell of a send-off.
Wow. You and your brother have given me some good ideas. There should definitely be a margarita machine at my funeral. And Def Leppard. And a full-on dance number, from "Grease"!!!! And some Rick Springfield, and all the hits from the 80s. And only foods I like, maybe Thai food.
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ReplyDeleteYou'll still check your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe of your ability to lightly speculate on such dark matters.
ReplyDeleteMB's comment made me laugh.
This is an ongoing struggle/fight/argument with my husband. I think that a funeral should be about the person who died. Something that person would be happy to attend. My husband thinks a funeral is about those left behind. You're dead. Let them do what they will. I just can't live with that--though I guess that's the point, I won't be living with this when I'm dead. Still I really think it's not too much to ask that I'd enjoy my own funeral.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hire you for my funeral planner, Lisa. My ideas are way more sentimental. But I think yours may be a better way to go.