August 21st 2024.
I'm not too concerned about what happens at my funeral - after all, I won't be there to experience it. However, I do have a funny idea that I can't help but share. I think it would be hilarious if a parade of micro pigs ran up the aisle of the church during the service. Just imagine the look on everyone's faces! But let me backtrack a bit and explain the context of this conversation.
This all happened a few years ago when I was working as a copywriter. I was in a meeting with my colleagues, brainstorming ideas for a funeral care company. We were tasked with coming up with unique and creative funeral plans, and I have to admit, I had never really thought about my own funeral before. I mean, why would I plan a party that I wouldn't even be able to attend? But as the discussion went on, I realized that I was in the minority here.
Everyone in the meeting had grand ideas for their own funeral - marching bands, pyrotechnics, all-day raves. It was like they were planning a party rather than a funeral. And the most surprising part? Black was forbidden, along with any signs of sadness. It was all about fancy dress and good vibes only. And then, of course, there were the micro pigs.
I couldn't help but wonder if any of my colleagues had ever actually been to a funeral. As a comedian, I know what makes people laugh, and I can say with confidence that having micro pigs at a funeral wouldn't exactly hit the mark. In fact, I think it would just confuse and distract the mourners. It seemed like everyone was planning a funeral that was completely out of touch with who they were as a person.
But as I listened to their plans, I realized that these funerals were designed for the dead - and that's not who funerals should be for. Funerals should bring comfort and closure to the living. I know this firsthand from my own experience.
When my dad passed away suddenly in 2014, he was only 55 years old and had never thought about his own funeral arrangements. And in a way, that was a good thing. Of course, there are some practical details that would be helpful to sort out beforehand, like financial arrangements and paperwork. But when it comes to the actual ceremony, I believe that should be left to the loved ones.
My dad left no plans or requests, which meant that we were able to plan a funeral that truly reflected who he was. We chose music that reminded us of him and gave readings that were meaningful to us. I even read a passage from a GCSE Biology Revision Guide because my dad had always helped me with my studies. It may not have been what he would have chosen himself, but it was what I needed to say goodbye to him.
And that's the key thing - funerals are a chance for those left behind to say goodbye to their loved ones. It's not a chance for the deceased to make one final statement. I understand that these "fun" funerals come from a place of kindness and wanting to make things easier for those left behind. But when you try to bring joy and celebration to a funeral, you're going against the natural process of grieving.
At the end of the day, it's your funeral and you have the right to plan it however you want. But you can't control how people will feel. They will be sad, and that's okay. Don't try to dictate how they should grieve or remember you. Let them remember you in their own way, not how you want to be remembered.
Ultimately, funerals are for the living. It's a chance for them to start the process of moving on without you. So instead of trying to make a statement or have one last hurrah, let them grieve and remember you however they need to. Trust me, they will appreciate it more than you know.
And on a lighter note, if you're curious about my comedy career, I'm currently performing my debut show "Gather Your Skeletons" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Come say hi and share your thoughts on funerals with me. Who knows, maybe we'll even talk about micro pigs.
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