Funerals...
Funeral- a ceremony honoring a dead person.
But you know what I think it is more a time when everyone else contemplates their own existence. We think and consider the passed and our memories of them, but as a result it makes us, no FORCES us to also contemplate our lives and the indeterminate time we have left.
Why so morbid you ask? Well, I went to my first non-Inuit funeral today in Yarmouth. The father of one of my friends, as well as a meaningful photographic mentor of mine, Sandy Bain. This guy was top notch. He was an extremely talented artist, photographer and I knew him through his ownership of the local Camera Store down at the end of my street as I first began taking pictures and bought my first SLR camera in grade 10 or 11. He was patient, creative and very kind. I loved checking out his shots around Yarmouth, and enjoyed talking to him about my shots, how to improve them, and different tricks of the trade. He passed away this weekend and his memorial service was today.
It was honestly one of the most beautiful services I had ever experienced. It captured his nature- easy going, warm and friendly. The family insisted on it being an informal dress, with a very touching tribute and song by Bruce Rainnie, who now works for CBC as a Sportscaster, but used to be a local radio broadcaster. He shared some humourous stories of commitment and quality time spent together, of inside jokes, of pranks and of eternal memories that bonded them so long ago. It took everything within in me to hold back the rush of tears. So beautiful was this deep connection that he clearly felt to Sandy, something that as was explained, built from time spent talking daily on the phone, evenings spent playing music and talking, sharing thoughts, points of views, dreams and hopes.
There were nods and smiles all over the crowd. From others who had felt a similar bond, who had experienced a same depth of friendship with him. And it made me start thinking.
What would people say about me? Could anyone comment in the same way about spending lots of time with me? Will there be nods and smiles of acknowledgment around the room or will I be only known as the transient off and on former resident- so and so's sister or so and so's daughter? If I never find a 'love interest' in my life, will anyone ever feel the deepest, strongest and closest connection to me that most people in this world have? Who will I leave a legacy to? Will many people say that I had impressed something real, and significant on them that changed the way they think about the world?
What will I leave behind? And now, what about you?
But you know what I think it is more a time when everyone else contemplates their own existence. We think and consider the passed and our memories of them, but as a result it makes us, no FORCES us to also contemplate our lives and the indeterminate time we have left.
Why so morbid you ask? Well, I went to my first non-Inuit funeral today in Yarmouth. The father of one of my friends, as well as a meaningful photographic mentor of mine, Sandy Bain. This guy was top notch. He was an extremely talented artist, photographer and I knew him through his ownership of the local Camera Store down at the end of my street as I first began taking pictures and bought my first SLR camera in grade 10 or 11. He was patient, creative and very kind. I loved checking out his shots around Yarmouth, and enjoyed talking to him about my shots, how to improve them, and different tricks of the trade. He passed away this weekend and his memorial service was today.
It was honestly one of the most beautiful services I had ever experienced. It captured his nature- easy going, warm and friendly. The family insisted on it being an informal dress, with a very touching tribute and song by Bruce Rainnie, who now works for CBC as a Sportscaster, but used to be a local radio broadcaster. He shared some humourous stories of commitment and quality time spent together, of inside jokes, of pranks and of eternal memories that bonded them so long ago. It took everything within in me to hold back the rush of tears. So beautiful was this deep connection that he clearly felt to Sandy, something that as was explained, built from time spent talking daily on the phone, evenings spent playing music and talking, sharing thoughts, points of views, dreams and hopes.
There were nods and smiles all over the crowd. From others who had felt a similar bond, who had experienced a same depth of friendship with him. And it made me start thinking.
What would people say about me? Could anyone comment in the same way about spending lots of time with me? Will there be nods and smiles of acknowledgment around the room or will I be only known as the transient off and on former resident- so and so's sister or so and so's daughter? If I never find a 'love interest' in my life, will anyone ever feel the deepest, strongest and closest connection to me that most people in this world have? Who will I leave a legacy to? Will many people say that I had impressed something real, and significant on them that changed the way they think about the world?
What will I leave behind? And now, what about you?
posted by Gillian at
2:40:00 PM
1 Comments:
You matter to me!!!!!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home