So, I just came from the Zone for the memorial/wake for Donny Samples. It was very good. In keeping with his wishes, everyone wore rainbow stuff or bright colors. It was a very eclectic mix of people. His family was there as well. There was a buffet. The DJ was playing some dance music, and there was a circle of his family members dancing. People were talking and smiling, and the underlying emotion seemed to be one of happiness or joy or I don't know what. You might think that this would seem somehow disrespectful for a wake, but it just felt completely appropriate. I know it's a stereotype when people say that someone would have wanted people to not be all down and dark and depressed in remembering them, but I genuinely feel that Donny would have been very much pleased that people came together to celebrate his life with such joy.
At one point, I bumped into some folks (one of whom knows my mom and who had lost his partner of 45 years a few months ago) and we had a great time chatting. When I looked up and saw Donny's family dancing away, some of the folks decided that they wanted to dance too. So as we were getting up there, Jump by The Pointer Sisters came on. "Ooh," said Dennis, "I LOVE this song." (Actually, I really like it as well.)
So the 5 of us were dancing away, and Donny's friends and family were also dancing. I felt joy in dancing with nice folks to a song that I really enjoyed. I also felt like crying. Not over Donny's death, but simply at the beauty of a life that had been so well-lived. (And there are tears running down my face as I am writing this. Crap.) When I go, I hope that folks remember my life with joy.
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That's what the wake was for,,,you celebrated his life!
I vividly remember my Aunt Dutch's funeral-I've NEVER been to one where there was so much laughter. She was a popular old gal.
I wish we would have had a wake for her.
Might have to think about having that for my Dad, he's so loved by a LOT of people.
If you have the nerve to pass before I do, I'll make sure you have a party.
Hell, write it up in your will & provide for it.
Do it!