Funerals are a excellent way to determine what family and friends think of their lost loved one. It's revealed in the songs chosen, and in the pictures and objects displayed. It is especially evident in the emotions of the funeral attendees.
I'm not sure Gary was a great husband or father. His wife didn't seem too bothered by her loss, she almost seemed happy. It wasn't one of those I'll-see-him-in-heaven-soon types of joy either. Because there would have been a pastor or priest, or hymns playing. His obituary said he had 3 kids, and more grandchildren. I saw one woman who could have been the right age, sitting next to his wife.
The funeral was mostly attended by Shriners. They weren't wearing their Shriners suits or fez hats. But his fez and jacket was on display in the front of the funeral home and a lot of the guests had emblems on their cars. And some of these men, as they payed tribute to Gary mentioned the Black Camel, which for Shriners means death.
Some big band music was played by some of these old men. I suppose Gary participated in this group. I wonder if he was the glue that held them together, because they sounded horrible, but not, evidently, from sorrow.
I stepped out to use the washroom during one of the unbearably long speeches and came accross the spread for the reception to follow. Tuna sandwich triangles, coffee, potato salad and apple juice. It seemed like a fairly small amount of effort was put into this. I took a few sandwiches and left the funeral. It was interesting because there were a few people standing outside smoking. Maybe they couldn't handle the funeral for the same reasons as me.
