Fireworks and Funerals

Every labor day weekend, the City of Cincinnati, and the local hard rock radio station, WEBN, spsonsors the biggest fireworks show anywhere ( as far as I know). We were lucky enough to be invited to a friends house that overlooks the river. This is like have seats behind home plate for the World Series, or on the 50 yard line for the Super Bowl. The view was spectacular, and the night could not have been better for the display. However, as I think about it this night was even more significant and most people don't even know why.

Saturday, we had the funeral mass for the father of the baritone in my quartet. I feel like I am becoming very close to Bari and his family, and that does not come easy for me. More than anything, I wanted to be there for him, and support him during a really horrible time in his life. As we sat in church and heard all of the prayers, the glorious music, and the comforting words from the priest, the thought crossed my mind that although everything that we were doing was a fitting and beautiful tribute to Bari's Dad, it seemed sort of an abrupt end to a long and rich life. We spend an hour in church, a half hour at the visitation, and then another hour at the cemetery, and its all over. It hardly seems to be enough. I think that an 25 minute fireworks display is a far better tribute to a man that meant so much to so many.

I will lose my Mom and Dad someday. We all will. I think that a proper tribute to them would be a solar eclipse.

Troubador