(Eulogy).
I have read, that Alfred Nobel, founded the eponymous prizes, after discovering that a newspaper had printed a mistaken report of his demise, and was horriffied that the folowing eulogy, focussed on his life as the inventor of dynamite – and as such, portrayed him as a merchant of Death!
In the aftermath of a couple of recent funerals, my wife and I have been impelled to consider the nature of our own mortality, and what we might prefer by way of ceremony or not, and also to reflect upon how little either of us had shared regarding our desires, or indeed, given thought to the matter.
(I’ve stuck -religiously- with full viking funeral – but apparently there are rules about burning longships on the Clyde)
I do not present this as a maudlin conversation, but however lightheartedly we address it, it is a needful one.
As a spin off from this I sugggested (jokingly) that I might make a video to play at my own ceremony – may I quickly stess, that I am NOT going to do this, nor have I any intention of needing it anytime soon. But the idea did make me pause and think.
What would I say? Not in the manner of some self serving Eulogy, but rather to reflect on the deeds and misdeeds, and balance of my life lived.
I’d like to think I’ll avoid the “merchant of death epithet”. – although a hundred plus “It’s a Dog’s lives” might make me a “merchant of misfortune…” but for all my posed affront at fate, and complaint at the viscitudes of life, it’s mostly tounge in cheek, and a self disparaging laugh at the world.
I feel no requirement to justify my existance by founding the “lucky dog prizes”…
I can only recognise that I have beeen hugely fortunate in this existance, and while it may remain an unexamined life, I have been privileged to know many remarkable people, go places, and do things, and share events, that while not world shaking, have not been run of the mill. A Bohemian life – said sister Lesley – and I’ll take that, quite happilly.
Next week on IaDL – There are still big bits of lead loose on the roof you know…
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 