We had visitation here in town Friday night... there was a great turn out from the university... I couldn't enter the viewing room... I just couldn't... I could see him from where I stood... from as close as I dared to approach... but I just couldn't.
I had to ask what goofy tie he was wearing... he was... and there was an Hawaiian shirt neatly folded and propped up.
His favorite Robert Cray CD was playing... it could have been a little louder... His son was wearing one of his Dad's favorite Hawaiian shirts...
After I left the visitation Friday night, I received a rather interesting phone call... a situation that had to be handled... I don't know yet if I will post about it or not.
Robert's funeral was yesterday... He was raised in Slidell, LA... and was buried there underneath an old Live Oak tree... very similar to the one above... I thought... now I could go for that... when the time comes, of course...
Robert has a great family down there... I learned something that I didn't know... This was revealed when I asked a fellow if he was Robert's brother... because he looked and acted just like him! He told me that he was a cousin, but that Robert was adopted...
I figure that Robert may have been adopted, but that he was a family member... maybe someone had a child that couldn't be raised... so some one took him in.
Funerals... Death... wears me out. But I also remember the rush of comfort that I felt when my Mom and Dad each died... so I am always there for the families...
Funny stories were told during the funeral service... I just cried more. I hate the loss of a good friend... I hate the loss of life. Death always leaves someone sad... alone...
I was reading a passage in a book the other evening... and the author states that when one dies, that person never really leaves and goes away alone... that he/she take a part of each person that they loved with them... and that is the pain that we feel... and also, that the person who dies, never really leaves us... because he/she leaves part of them behind to stay with us... I like this idea.
This is the door to Robert's office... I've already told you Robert was a goofball... but so am I... so I am not being disrespectful. Robert loved Farside Cartoons... his office door as well as mine are coated with them...
Here are several of his favorites...
Robert always felt that God just HAD to have a sense of humor!
Being a professor of Management, Robert always had this
idea about a distribution system gone amok!
Until one of these days, Robert...
Save a place for me...
~shoes~
I really liked this tribute to your friend.
ReplyDeleteIt's been Real!
It's been fun!
It's been Really fun!
this is a nice tribute. slidell has some beautiful live oaks, too; i spent a summer working there recently.
ReplyDeletekeeping you and yours in my thoughts.
No man is an island...
ReplyDeleteThis is good! I read back the other day about Robert - and I am sorry for your loss. And for his family's loss.
ReplyDeleteGod definitely has a sense of humor or I wouldn't be here. hee-hee
I'm liking the book passage... food for thought!!!
Have a good afternoon and I'm sending you big red.neck hugs from Texas - sans the duct tape. Okay, no - they might include the duct tape...
:-) robelyn
You have much more courage than I Shoes. I abhor funeral homes and funerals. I decided when Dennis died that I'd only go when it was a very close friend or one of his family. As to looking, I agree. I don't look. I remember how they were living.
ReplyDeleteI like FarSide too. The one where Santa has the laundry is funny.
It's nice at funerals, as horrible as they might be to go to, to have a little levity. It's the funny stories and the humor and laughter that make such a sad memorial memorable.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea as well. I find that comforting. Thanks for sharing, and again, so sorry for your loss.
...thinking of you, shoes.
ReplyDeletexox
Beryl
So sorry for the loss of your friend Shoes. I don't do death very well and have been extremely lucky with avoiding it amongst my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really like the passage from the book.
Oh and I ADORE the Far Side. Its my second favorite comic....after Calvin & Hobbes. ;)
Be well friend. xo
Great Job Shoes. You are a good friend to your friend. And I say "are" instead of "were" because I know you are...
ReplyDeleteI love that passage. I also like this one we had for my brother, from Bossuet: I join my loved ones and wait for the ones I love. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteI love what you read about death and how we never really leave the people we love (and they don't leave us). What a beautiful thought!
ReplyDeleteNice jokes and memories of your friend, Robert. Great post!
@ Kurt... thank you... Robert was a good guy... I wish he had planned better for his family.
ReplyDeleteI hope you change your mind and hang around and blog some more...
@ Magnolia... thank you so much for your kind words... Slidell is a neat city...
@ Jessica... you are right about that... I hope all is well for you...
@ Red.neck.chic I agree about God having a sense of humor!!! Big Time!! Re: The Passage... I've tried to find it... wanted to read it again... and now I can't!! Grrrr....
Hmmm... use the duct tape... just sayin'... ;o)
@ Charlene... I don't know that I have more courage... I think its because I love and respect people and their relationships... My Mom was so sick... when she died, we wanted to have a closed coffin visitation, but Mom looked so good, we decided to go with an open coffin... Dad didn't look so good... not many people have I seen at visitations have looked good... I just couldn't see Robert... Like you, I go for the memory of the Living person...
@ f8hasit You are right... the laughter really helped things along. Robert would have appreciated the humor!
@ Beryl... thank you! How are you doing??
@ PeeDee... hey you... thank you SO much. I remember thinking that I had done a great job of avoiding death... but sooner or later, it catches up with us and those we love... We can't outlive everyone... I will find that passage and post the name of the book...
@ Martie... Yes, I AM a good friend to him... I was talking to one of his family members, and I told this person that 'I work with Robert...' not 'I workED with...' He's going to be around for a while...
@ Spring Flower... I love that saying as well... thank you for leaving it... I need to write that one down!
@ Ily... it's easy to write about how we feel about those close to us. He was a great friend. I like the idea of never really leaving those we love... and how they don't leave us. I have posted about my GrandMother Brown... who died LONG before I ever came along... and yet I have such a great connection to her... I just can't explain it... Thank you for your kind words...
~shoes~
I LOVE the Far Side. My dad has one of those Far Side ties with the cows.
ReplyDeleteMay your friend rest in peace.
GREAT HOMAGE.
ReplyDeleteI must admit being a HUGE fan of Gary Larson's work as well.
@ Senorita & Heff... Gary Larson... Man, I would LOVE to live inside that man's head for a few days... what a strange outlook on Life he has!!
ReplyDeleteRobert was a good guy, Heff... I am sure he will... Thank you, Senorita... that's a wish that everyone deserves...
Thank you so much..
~shoes~
It is 4:00 a.min the morning. In 1 and 1/2 hours, my mother will be prepped for surgery. Two very young cousins passed away unexpectantly these last two weeks. It gets u to thinking. Surely, when Robert passed it hit u hard. These deaths have hit my family hard. I have been reading Spiritual Literacy every night since I got it. It is very helpful and soothing. I know have several friends reading along with me. Death of people close to me makes me realize that one needs to get out their and live life. To take chances especially when loving people. Sometimes, u have to put itself out there. Occasionally, u have to make a fool of itself in the process. I have taken a few not so nice comments from people who read my comments on various blogs. I won't worry about that. They don't really know me. Life is to be lived with passion and honesty. Because one day death knocks on ur door. I don't want to have to turn around and look at my life and say Darn u should have taken a chance on that opportunity. I would rather try and fail or be rejected than to never take a chance and live life.
ReplyDeleteRobert's anniversary death is coming about. Surely u are thinking about this. I know I would be. That is a beautiful thing to be buried under the tree. I have a great love for trees. In fact, I get upset when one is cut down. I am going to be cremated and my ashes along with all of my pets will be thrown in the Mississippi River. I will make it down to New Orleans one way or the other. Stormy aka Dawn