Yesterday I went to the funeral of an Emmanuel member. She didn't have any family or relatives, or if she did they weren't in attendance and Fr Bill didn't mention them. Emmanuel was in effect, her family. She had everything meticulously planned down to the last detail. Not only the funeral service, but the catering menu for the Reception afterwards, which was very nice indeed. It would have been held in the parish hall but the Israelites were still camped there, so it was held instead at the local restaurant which catered it.
It was such a nice restaurant, I don't know why I haven't been before, but will go again.
So now I am going to start planning my own funeral service. I paid for my cremation after Larry died, but I guess the Funeral Home will give me a refund if I don't die here. Memo to loved ones. The reception will be down to you, but there are lots of local restaurants which will cater it in the parish hall. What will also be down to you is scattering the ashes on Seaford Head. To paraphrase the immortal words of Rupert Brooke, "there will be no corner of a foreign field - not in Oklahoma - that is for ever England.
Memo to my loved ones (I hope you are keeping up with these memos). There is a photo on my computer of myself, looking windswept, wearing one of Jeremy's pullovers, which is my favourite photo of myself. Put that on my 'funeral card'.
And this morning I have been to a historic event. The first gay wedding at Emmanuel. Or as near a gay wedding as one can get in this Republican state which has yet to enter the 21st century.
I was a bit surprised at my own wedding when the guests turned up in jeans and tee shirts, but have come to learn that IS the dress code for this part of the world. Jeans or shorts. I am convinced that this redneck state is the most 'un-fancy' in the Union. I bet people on the east and west coasts wear pretty outfits to weddings and funerals. At least the couple themselves made an effort.
There was a reception in the parish hall but I don't know the couple so I didn't gatecrash it.
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