“they often discover that something sad and dark can also elicit laughter, joy and celebration.”
But really, we say we want people to celebrate our lives rather than mourn our deaths, but don’t lots of us secretly want people to feel that they’re totally lost without us? (Remembering the Oscar Wilde line about Lady Harbury that, after her husband's death, “her hair turned quite gold with grief.”)
Tune of “Poor Jud is Dead” (in honor of the harsh, pragmatic “Oklahoma” at St. Ann’s in Brooklyn)
Old Joe is gone
Accountant Joe is gone.
We squeezed him in his coffin made of pine.
He was a hundred two
And he made sure he got through
Our tax returns, the refunds looks real fine.
Old Joe has left
His kids who feel bereft
Are paying for his plot in Forest Hills
We all are total wrecks
And forgot to bring some checks
‘Cause Joe’s the one who managed all our bills.
Where’s Joe? We need Joe!
4
FOLLOW THE SELF-MADER
Get rich quick,
Move outa that dump;
Invest your savings
With Donald Trump.
2
So, in order to learn that the TLC "will waive nearly $20-million in fees in an effort to help struggling medallion owners," one has to go to the NY Post, which despite its dubious political leanings is still one of two go-to papers in the city for local news...and the other ain't the Times.
4
"potluck for the dead, reflecting on food, memory and loss"
I love that sales pitch! "Potluck for the Dead" sounds like one of those titles, like with "Snakes on a Plane," where when someone asked what's it's about, the answer was "It's about snakes on a plane."
4
Let's face it. There isn't that much that we can do about incidents like this. There are about 350 million people in this country and a tiny few are bound to be deranged.
9/11 emboldened the lunatic fringe and opened the door to events of this nature.
3
While horrendous terrorist/mass murder horrors can happen under any president, Trump has turned it into an art form with his bigoted, rabble rousing speeches co depending and enabling the murderers.
It seems like one is happening every week instead of every few months with other presidents.
11
Pursuant to your "and finally".
Graveyards and cemeteries are fascinating. My daughter is into genealogy (my Walloon/Huguenot ancestors arrived here in New Amsterdam in1624) so I've spent a lot of time with her scrolling old census files, and visiting gravesites. You learn to read many faded headstones by using your fingers, much like reading braille.
My point is that graveyards/cemeteries are fascinating. I would never keep up with her because I stopped to read the headstones. Past headstones told you much about the individuals, not just todays date of birth/date of death. They provided occupations, family info, a small message, even on occasion the cause of death. And the previous and next generation were often buried nearby. It can be sad, with the high rates of infant mortality, but mostly it is simply fascinating. Our local history is there for viewing, if you are patient and so inclined.
10
The accompanying photograph by Devin Yalkin was stunning. Beautiful scene from Green-Wood Cemetery. I was hoping that the article was going to be about an upcoming exhibition of his photography.
4
@Billy from Brooklyn, death is such a weird subject in terms of setting and context. On Halloween, tales that would be non-P.C. other times of the year are suddenly acceptable. I was so surprised at the Haunted House ride in Disney World what, only there, it was Ok to expose kids to, and I still feel a caveat is needed there. (And don't get my friend Michael started on the live-action "Casper" movie, where we are directly faced with the adorable character we knew all our lives being a real person who passed away young.)
We tried a food and death Halloween concept that in its day got a response from someone of "still too close to O.J. trial" even years after to work year-round. Since it was set during the Parade in the Village, the number had always felt Halloween-friendly. Hope it'll be OK to share it, that it's not too methodically gruesome for some people where it's still the morning.
"Last Meal in Greenwich Village"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNe9VtWauf0
(In our readings, we got it to feel P.C.; the crazed jealous guy decided literally seconds later that murder was not appropriate. Still hopeful, but what's P.C. with murder onstage keeps changing quickly! Can't imagine investors would be Ok with the brilliant "Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder" in 2018 unless they did an "American Psycho" framing device adjustment.)
2