Monday, July 28, 2003
Aunt Bertha
Today was Aunt Bertha’s funeral. She died at the age of 77. Some time back she had written a short history of her life that two of her daughters read for the congregation. Aunt Bertha was always a fairly reserved woman, and as they said in the service, she liked to stay in the background. So hearing her words that had so much life from her past took away some of the sorrow of her present death.
From the funeral I went to visit my newest nephew, David, 3 weeks old. And you all really need to rent Disney’s “Lion King” if nothing else to hear the opening number, The Circle of Life. Now this would be before Elton John got to it. But it captures the majesty of renewal. And it sets up the scene and perspective for kids who will witness an impending loss. I’m told that originally, the music and video were going to be playing in the background as the narrator would introduce the story. Once the director viewed the scene with the music (African vocals included), he decided to let it stand alone.
Bertha was a devout Mormon, so the circle analogy gets a little lost—it’s more like a continuum. Everyone in the church is convinced that Bertha and Eddie, whenever his time comes, will reunite with Bertha for the eternities. Well here’s my problem. Is he going to end up with heavenly honey-dos? I mean, if a guy gets nagged down here, is he post-destined to get nagged in perpetuity? There’s got to be a lot of stuff going on in the afterlife. Things in other worlds have got to be breaking and need fixing. At least they probably don’t have refrigerators where a magnet holds the list of tasks firmly in place. Actually, in Mormon heaven, there would be no need for a refrigerator if you didn’t plan on keeping cold beer to have on hand after a busy day of doing the Lord’s heavenly work. Fortunately, red wine can be stored and drunk at room temperature, assuming there will be heavenly rooms and heavenly temperatures, and then assuming that the Mormons at least lighten up about wine, after they realize it’s the blood of Christ.
So whether it’s a circle or continuum, as the Warthog in Lion King sang, “Hakuna Matata” – no worries for the rest of your days. Goodbye, Bertha.
Today was Aunt Bertha’s funeral. She died at the age of 77. Some time back she had written a short history of her life that two of her daughters read for the congregation. Aunt Bertha was always a fairly reserved woman, and as they said in the service, she liked to stay in the background. So hearing her words that had so much life from her past took away some of the sorrow of her present death.
From the funeral I went to visit my newest nephew, David, 3 weeks old. And you all really need to rent Disney’s “Lion King” if nothing else to hear the opening number, The Circle of Life. Now this would be before Elton John got to it. But it captures the majesty of renewal. And it sets up the scene and perspective for kids who will witness an impending loss. I’m told that originally, the music and video were going to be playing in the background as the narrator would introduce the story. Once the director viewed the scene with the music (African vocals included), he decided to let it stand alone.
Bertha was a devout Mormon, so the circle analogy gets a little lost—it’s more like a continuum. Everyone in the church is convinced that Bertha and Eddie, whenever his time comes, will reunite with Bertha for the eternities. Well here’s my problem. Is he going to end up with heavenly honey-dos? I mean, if a guy gets nagged down here, is he post-destined to get nagged in perpetuity? There’s got to be a lot of stuff going on in the afterlife. Things in other worlds have got to be breaking and need fixing. At least they probably don’t have refrigerators where a magnet holds the list of tasks firmly in place. Actually, in Mormon heaven, there would be no need for a refrigerator if you didn’t plan on keeping cold beer to have on hand after a busy day of doing the Lord’s heavenly work. Fortunately, red wine can be stored and drunk at room temperature, assuming there will be heavenly rooms and heavenly temperatures, and then assuming that the Mormons at least lighten up about wine, after they realize it’s the blood of Christ.
So whether it’s a circle or continuum, as the Warthog in Lion King sang, “Hakuna Matata” – no worries for the rest of your days. Goodbye, Bertha.
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