thinking ahead

been thinking about my funeral lately. not in a morbid or doomsday sense. nor am i having any premonitions. just thinking. and that thinking leads to problems. i'm not one for sermons at funerals. i know they are nice and have their place and well...are to give comfort and most times do, yaddah yaddah, i just don't want one at my funeral. i want music. lots and lots of music and maybe a few poems. that creates a bit of a problem, how do i decide which music.

i want "goin home" written by william fisher based on dvorak's new world symphony 9. (i've already made arrangements with carolyn stevens to play, along with her sister and brother on the violins. if they can't do it maybe we can arrange for andre rieu.)

zach george promised to play his pipes, but he'll have to do that from the other side. i'm sure i'll hear it and the rest of you will just have to listen really hard, but i'm sure they will be playing.

i want cori to sing - lots of her songs and i can't narrow them down so it might be a long service. among them i think "sisters" would be nice. maybe "out of the blue", "auld lang syne" "memoria". ( david must add his voice too and even if it is in july i hope you won't mind singing "joseph and mary".) and of course, what has become her own "give me jesus" is a must have. (the boys will need to join her on that one.)

i need john to sing and play - "danny boy", "amazing grace", "i'll fly away", "ol' 55", "i shall be released", etc. etc. etc. . (harmonies by jenny and emmy please)

george will do a nice job on "weary hobo". if he and cindy could also work up a duet guitar and flute number, that would be lovely. and because ann marie wants "the garden" well ... i do too! and because cori wants "homeward bound", so do i!

i of course need the nieces and nephews (there is no distinction if you are an "in-law" all are required to participate) to sing and play. no one is allowed to say "no" or "i can't" (this means you annie and bryan). there are many songs to choose from. maybe they could even work up an arrangement of "be still my soul" and "how great thou art". kate - pie jesu, please! and who wouldn't want to hear the grandkids sing "in the highways", "when he comes again" or even "grand old flag"!

wouldn't it be nice if sue and sherry would dance! sue could use joseph as partner for a nice waltz or swing and i can just picture sherry doing a beautiful "aloha 'oe".

cinny will just have to think of something if she doesn't want to sing. maybe she can be in charge of the potted flowers.

i think mom would be willing to recite a few favorite poems. anyone she would choose would be just fine. and don't you think a nice "god be with you" would be a good ending.

now in order to get this all in we will probably need at least a three day wake. so when i die, come on over. i'll be laid out on the dining room table and if i begin to "stink" too much just put me in the ground and keep on playing and listening.


post script: i'm sure i will have many "oh yeah, i want that too" moments so i reserve the right to add to the above. there will also be a need for lots of food. am - you are in charge. and i haven't listed everyone by name. this is not because you are not all expected to take part, you are! named or unnamed. all must participate and i give everyone permission to add whatever talent they want. given that - michael bring your drums and steve - practice up on "happy birthday"!