The funeral for my dad, grandpa_a, is over. Some various observations before I get back to packing the leftover food 🙂
- It’s really nice to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in ages. Why is it that we (far too often) wait until a funeral to reconnect?
- The custom of “identification” (i.e., the family getting one last chance to say goodbye to the deceased before the casket is closed and the funeral starts) is nice. It erases that image in your head of the final view in the hospital.
- I must be a better writer than I thought. People really were moved by the eulogy that I wrote (posted here as the remembrance post). For those that have to do this: share your memories, not the history.
- The custom of shoveling the dirt is a good one. It does give one that finality that one needs.
- For those planning to receive visitors after the funeral, remember that not everyone comes back to (whereever). We had loads and loads of leftovers, which we will be freezing, and which we sent home with some other relatives.
- The LJ community was represented by gyesika and profstevie. Although I didn’t get a chance to come over and talk to you, I thank you for being there and representing not only yourself, but my new group of friends in this community.
- It is nice to be around friends and family at a time like this.
Lastly, for those in the greater LA area who want to join us, we’ll be at the “Come As You Are” Shabbat Services at Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village tomorrow night.
