DECOMPRESSION - My Uncle Ralph, who we always called Uncle Rae, and who was my dads older brother, died somewhat unexpectedly last week at age 94. He was a good man and he had a good life. He loved to fish, he golfed until he was 90 and he always enjoyed a good meal. I remember as a kid, watching in awe as he polished off nearly a dozen ear of corn at a family picnic. You dont forget something like that. Anyway, the visitation hours were scheduled for Sunday and the funeral for Monday morning. I was already booked to play the WXPN Christmas show in Kennett Square Sunday afternoon, so I wasnt going to be able to make the visitation. But I wanted to be there for the funeral, so I was trying to schedule flights to Ohio that would leave after the show finished. I finally decided I would just drive the 7 1/2 hours; leave directly from the show, arrive Sunday evening, go to the funeral Monday morning and then turn around and head back to Philly early Monday afternoon. And surprisingly, it all went off without a hitch. It was a beautiful ceremony, a tribute to a man who served his family, his country and his faith, very well. He was an honored Marine who fought, and was wounded, in the Battle of Guadalcanal in WWII. There was a Marine honor guard at the funeral and they gave him a military gun salute and played Taps. The ceremonial folding of the American flag that covered his casket, and the presentation of that flag by the Marine Guard to his widow was a touching tribute to his service. It was great to see family and friends, although its always a somewhat sobering experience to see people from back home that you dont see very often. How they have aged, how life has taken its toll on their bodies. Plenty of grey hair and limping, as well as stories of surgeries, illnesses and deaths in the family. These are people that I picture as still young in my mind, and its a harsh reminder to see how they have aged. Another reminder of my own mortality. And during my 7 1/2 hour trip back to Philly, the thought came to my mind that I was so glad that I had decided to drive to the funeral. The return trip gave me an opportunity to decompress from the experience, something that flying doesnt allow. A long drive by yourself lets your mind to go to places that it wouldnt normally go. The solitude allows reflection that every day life doesnt allow. An opportunity to process seeing all those faces, the grieving, the aging and the moving on through life with one less person who was important to me and who helped to shape the person that I am. And to celebrate a life well-lived. I too salute you Uncle Rae. You will be missed.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:59:13 +0000
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