I’m going to start this off by asking you to picture a phone booth. You know the old fashioned ones that you could step into and there was a small bi-fold door you could close for privacy? Ok, keep that in mind for later.
My husband and I went to a funeral last night for one of his former co-workers, Tim. I knew this was going to be huge.
Tim lived his entire life (72 years) in a town that has a population of less than 12,000. In 1960, when Tim was a kid, the population of that town was 5,500. Small town America where everybody knows everybody.
Tim’s dad was Chief of Police and served on many committees in town. He was well known. Therefore, Tim was well known and also involved in many committees and activities. The obituary asked for donations to three different school-related programs in his town in lieu of flowers. Tim was very involved in the school system.
The visitation at the funeral home, which by the way used every available viewing room just for the expected crowd, was from 3pm to 7pm. There was a maze of roped off areas for people to orderly stay in line until it was their turn to pay their respects. A separate room was used for refreshments and small children’s activities. I saw no less than eight TV’s, while waiting in the maze, that were rotating pictures and video’s of Tim’s life, family, and friends.
We arrived at 3:45 and waited one hour until we could pay our respects. When we left, the line was longer than it was when we arrived. This in itself speaks volumes of what people thought of Tim.
By choice my happiest times are when I’m alone. It’s been that way for many, many years. Whether it’s watching a movie, working in my garden, baking, cooking, or anything else I can find to do, I am comfortable being alone.
That doesn’t mean my husband and I, as well as friends and family, don’t go out to dinner or travel together. I do know some people who need to be with other people 24/7/365. Maybe they’re not comfortable in their own skin.
My immediate family is very small. I mean SMALL. I have four or five friends that I consider good friends, and one sister.
Therefore, my funeral could comfortably be held in that phone booth I told you about. I wonder where I can find one???
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