A Funeral Experience (Freebird)

Post Date

Fri, 04/17/2015 - 06:19

Categories

Lifestyle

I had the poignant experience of attending Gotham member Jack Friedman's funeral last Sunday. It was so well attended that the room was overflowing with humanity.

My impression of the man was confirmed by the eulogies of his friends, relatives, wife and children. He was a very decent, friendly, nice, giving, collegial and potent man.

Driving home, Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic masterpiece Freebird was on the radio and the combination of the funeral experience and the words of that singular piece got me thinking about life as it is, the rest of my life and possible afterlife.

At the very least, if we have laid down a good foundation and done memorable deeds we will be remembered.

If I leave here tomorrow

Would you still remember me

For I must be traveling on now

'Cause there's too many places I've got to see

Comments

Tessa Marquis

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Do good things every day. Be kind to strangers. Offer to help in specific ways. Thank people whenever possible. Do the Love Thing.

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You Fred, are the epitome of that sentiment!

Paul Napolitano

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Great blog Fred. Thought provoking.

And I love Tessa's response. Try to change someone's life for the better every chance you get. Even if it's just a little.

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Wonderful, the words are touching and yes he was someone to remember and the rest, I'd like to think he was on his way....Thanks for sharing!

Sonia Saleh

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Sometimes I go to a funeral for the sake of a friend, but I don't know the person that died. And after listening to the eulogies, I wish I had known them. It seems to me that everyone wants to make a difference and have a positive impact, of course each in our own way. So I think Lynyrd Skynryd verse is appropriate for us all.

Corey Bearak

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You hit it! How you impact others creates memories. Positive impacts = positive memories.
And since JF loves Bruce,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbIQAaC8trI&feature=related

Fred Klein

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Thanks Alex for inspiring me

Cayce Crown

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Thoughtful.
I'm just trying to be kinder every day.
Don't have to change anyone's life but my own.

Hmmm, Corey that could be a song lyric...

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I know you Rider. Gonna miss you when you're gone. Spot on Fred.

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Nice!

Rona Gura

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Love the counterbalance of the song lyrics with the blog topic.

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Oh boy Fred....Elaborate rituals. I don't know about Funerals. Should the F in Funeral (funeral) be capitalized? If you didn't have any friends or family would there be a funeral? How about a eulogy (Eulogy?) How many Eulogies are permitted before it gets tacky? Is a funeral a right of passage ? I prefer to remember my friends as they were. The pain and sadness and group grieving I can do without. It's not due to lack of respect or love or anything like that. I prefer to grieve on my own. I don't want to stand or sit next to another person who I might or might not know and try not to wale away in grief. Is a funeral a celebration of grief and mourning ? Ugh. How "blue" can one experience be ? And then the "Wake?" Celebration of life ? Sitting Shiva with Bagels and Lox ? Ha Ha Ha !!! No thanks. No disrespect. Only if Neil Young would write a song. Oh..."Harvest Moon." Or Harry Nilsson. I didn't attend my Mom or Dad's . I didn't attend Al Sharf's. My best friend by the way. I grieve alone. Maybe with Whiskey and music and a dog or two.

Hollander Sends