I wouldn't want to seem up myself! God no.
So I ain't apologizing to nobody.
Anyway.
I went to a funeral a couple of weeks ago. An old teacher friend of my Dad's, who taught me back in the day, died suddenly of a heart attack. He was only 60. It was very shocking for his family.
I went with Dad to the funeral. It was at my old high school, where he and his wife have both been teaching for over 30 years. My parents taught there for a goodly period too.
There were more than 1000 people in attendance. Amazing.
His Year 12 Physics class formed the guard of honour. They were all weeping hysterically, poor kids. You know what teenagers are like. I guess it was probably one of their first experiences of death. Facing mortality and all that.
It was disorienting being back at school. At the wake, I was served hot nibblies (including cheeerios and sauce) by my old teachers. Weird.
His wife, my former English teacher, was distraught, but their three daughters were amazing.
I wasn't sure that they would remember me. I gave the middle daughter a hug, and said "Do you remember me? Sarah?"
She said through her tears, "Of course I do! I vomited all over your house when I was a little girl once."
"Really?" I said. "I don't remember that! Look, all is forgiven. What's a vomit between friends!"
We all had a good laugh. Well, good-ish. Wake-appropriate.
There were a couple of people from my year there. It was nice to see them. High school seems simultaneously a long time ago and only yesterday. I had the strange feeling that everything was physically smaller than it used to be. I guess school looms large in your memory.
Anyway because I don't have a smart phone these days and I never remember to take the camera anywhere, here are some photos from the archives. Of my 10 year high school reunion. So sort of in theme.
Fascinating I know. Crazy times.
I think about death ALL the time. Odd I know. I'm always convincing myself that I've got a terminal illness. I recently bought a necklace with skulls in it because I'm constantly getting all memento mori on everyone's arses.
I thought about Mr H dying so suddenly, and felt compelled to tell M that if I were to die suddenly, I request that;
- I be cremated
- The funeral is held at Dad's church
- I want nice music to be played that makes everyone think fondly of me and weep tears of bittersweet bittersweetness, which is totes my favourite emotion
- If they want a memorial stone or something then put it at the Buderim cemetery.
I will think further about my funereal music choices and advise you when I am decided. Hopefully I don't die before then.
Memento mori, people. Memento mori.
