Okay, I went to my first funeral viewing. I have been to many funerals -- I stopped counting at 20 -- but probably given my religious backgrounds, nearly all have been Jewish. I had never been to a wake or a funeral viewing before.
I did not know the person -- I was going because it was the grandfather of a good friend. Anyway, I show up and my friend is busy talking but acknowledges me. I sign in the guest book and then see there is an open casket. Her grandfather was a HIGHLY decorated veteran and he had his medals all over him. Anyway, I am not a big fan of dead bodies (I know, who is) and when I saw it was an open casket, I decided to not go in.
I thought I was going to get away without seeing one ...
From the dramatic pause, you can see that did not end up being the case. My friend, after she was done talking, decided that she wanted to INTRODUCE me to her grandfather, the one who passed away. So, I had to kneel down in front of the casket. She offered to let me shake his hand but I declined. I love my friend dearly which is why I did it but it felt really weird.
Now that I have seen one dead body, I have one word to say, "EEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!" That was so absolutely disgusting. Not him, just dead bodies in general. The whole ride home from the viewing, I was going EW, EW, EW, EW and trying to get the picture out of brain.
That is one experience I hope to NEVER EVER repeat.
EWWWWW!!!
2 comments:
Weird. When my best friend died, they had a closed coffin at the funeral home and folks kept going up to kneel in front of it.
Being a jewess, I wasn't real comfortable with the kneeling, so towards the end, I pulled up a chair and had a little talk with her.
Until her husband came over and pointed out that I might be talking to her feet.
Wasn't the last time I laughed until I cried that day.
I am Catholic and there is always an open casket. The first funeral I attended I was 7. It really marked me. When my Father died I refused to see the body. I just wanted to remember him.
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