My friend Leo and I went to the funeral today of the young wife of a school friend. She was 29. If you are new to this story, read some of my old posts and you will find reference to this.
It was terribly sad to say the least. I probably cried from beginning to end and I didn’t even know her. There were grown men around me crying. Even the Dominee was close to tears. She touched so many people, it was amazing.
I said the following to hubby this evening:
1. Cremation for me please
2. Absolutely NO sad music. No Celine, no Josh Groban, no church music, nothing sad. I’m thinking ABBA and some Gloria Gaynor.
3. No sad poems, some funny little limerick should do the trick
4. I want people to have a party. If anything happens to me please have a “memorial” in a beautiful place like a garden and tell funny stories about me. (those people I didn’t piss of that week anyway).
ps: These are just my thoughts on funerals in general, not this one in particular. Although I do want to share the poem with you, if is beautiful. I unfortunately don’t know who wrote it though.
When tomorrow starts without me
When tomorrow starts without me and I’m not here to see; if the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me,
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today; while thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me… as much as I love you; and each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand
She said my place was ready in heaven far above; and that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye; for all my life I’d always thought I didn’t want to die
I had so much to live for, so much yet to do; it seemed almost impossibly that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad; I thought of all the love we shared, of all the love we had.
If I could relive yesterday just even for a while; I’d say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile
But then I fully realized that this could never be; for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things I might miss come tomorrow; I thought of you and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven’s gates I felt so much at home; when God looked down and smiled at me from His great golden throne
He said: “This is eternity and all I’ve promised you; today your life on earth is past, but here it all starts anew.”
“I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day’s the same day, there’s no longing for the past”
“But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true; though at times you did do things you know you shouldn’t do”
“But you have been forgiven and now at last you’re free; so won’t you take my hand and share my life with me?”
So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart… for every time you think of me, I’m right here… In your heart
nee vrek ek is nie in die regte bui om so ‘n poem vanaand te lees nie
snik
Sjoe, what a sad experience for you. Lovely poem. And I like your kind of funeral. A Celtic wake with lots of upbeat music and flowers and good food and laughter about what a daft old tart I was would suit me fine. It must run in the family because my dad has even changed his will to make provision for a festive wake when he pops his clogs. And my grandfather specified that his ashes should be scattered at the spot in the garden of remembrance that says “DO NOT scatter ashes here.”
I am so sorry to hear about your friends wife. Its scary to hear of someone so young dying. I agree with Luddite Lass, an Irish wake is such a great idea. My family in Ireland explained that the tradition is to spend the final evening before the funeral with the coffin in the house, and basically have a raucous party. I know when my gran passed away a few years back, we had a braai after her funeral, and my uncle had had pictures of her scanned and printed on big pages, and he stuck them around the room, and we actually spent most of the time laughing about my grans wise words and quirky view on life. It was so much nicer than everyone standing around crying.
lovely
Truly sad, but what a beautiful poem.
I think people need to mourn, it’s a good thing.
That’s so funny, because I’ve always said I want my ashes scattered there too.
I love this poem. I think it is by David Romano. But funny it still brings tears to my eyes even though it’s supposed to do the opposite.
Hugs to you for surviving such a sad day. I feel so drained after a funeral – even if I don’t know the person so well.
I read the poem title and got tears in my eyes, so I didn’t continue. I know that poem well, it really is beautiful.
I also want to be cremated. I told hubby if I go before him and he buries me, I’ll haunt him for the rest of his days! He insists on burial.
Stunning poem
I don’t do funerals, I stay away and say a farewell prayer, he/she will know its from me.
Thank you for this poem. Funerals are so difficult, I too don’t want one. xx
I love this poem, it’s so beautiful. Funerals normally exhaust me and I don’t think that I want one either…
xxx
Classic!
beautiful poem! I’m with you on the party & great memories.