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At my funeral, I'm sure the eulogy will bear witness to my Christian faith and the joy and meaning it added to my life. It will speak of my devotion as a husband, and if my hopes and intentions are realized, my devotion as a father. It will surely also mention my part in the creation of at least two
new businesses. All the standard stuff.
But among the things that are not standard, there's something I'd like to see made standard. If the deceased is/was a halfbaker, what a marvelous tribute it would be for the survivors or the funeral planners to select one or two of the halfbaker's most engaging ideas to be read as part of the eulogy.
Would it be appropriate to inject something so trivial into a time when loved ones are suffering so, and even those who are not suffering are still faced with the awesome finality of death?
I think so. I think the inventiveness and wit found in the best ideas - and most of all the spontaneous impulse to share that joy with other people - are among the more appealing manifestations of that spark within us that makes us human. And what could be better at a funeral than to celebrate that spark?
Today, of course, it might be too much to expect a funeral planner to seek out halfbakery ideas the way they seek out the other standard eulogy fare. But I'm proposing this for the day when halfbaking is ubiquitous. That way it will be available for my own funeral, since it will surely not occur for a very, very, very, very, very long time.
Inspired by this, of all things.
http://www.halfbake...k_20Upgrade_20Cover
[beauxeault, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]
A better mousetrap
A_20Better_20Mousetrap
Quite a funny idea, I thought. Didn't understand the comments though. [DrBob, Sep 02 2020]
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beauxeault, sometimes you disgust me.
Not this time + |
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The Lord giveth, and the Lord baketh away. + |
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If my eulogy bears witness to my participation in the Halfbakery, I think I will die of shame. Oh, wait... |
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With the possible exception of jutta (and I invite her to dispute that by all means), I think the fact that most of us enjoy a web site called the halfbakery is really a very minor fact in the big picture of our lives. If it's not, it should be. |
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Worth nary a mention at the end of it all. |
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I quite like this idea, but I think folk would struggle to find eulogy-worthy ideas for me at least. |
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mahatma, I'm happy you like the idea, but I confess I'm surprised that I've done/said something to disgust you. I usually try not to be offensive, even if what I'm saying could be controversial. I don't doubt what you say (I can be quite clueless sometimes), but if you'd care to state (here or by email) how I've disgusted you without intending to, I might be able to avoid such an error (if that's what it is) with others in the future. |
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jutta, true enough, but unless the halfbaker has a reputation outside the halfbakery as a creative writer, I doubt many people would think to look here for illuminating examples. |
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waugs, it's not about a person's enjoyment of the web site (which I agree with you should be a minor thing if all is healthy). It's about the ability of a good halfbakery idea to demonstrate things about the author that we'd like to remember about them. It came from reading the Desk Upgrade idea and thinking, well, not that it in itself is a fitting tribute outside the hb, but that it nevertheless expressed some of the unique genius of the individual, which is what good eulogies generally try to evoke. |
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[beauxault] - I actually did consider using some of his ideas. I didn't do it, though, because I didn't think I could describe the context without using up far too much of the services. |
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Oh handy boy, pool balls, pool balls aren't tolling
- quiet momentum, and down 'bakery site
The Hummer's gone, and all the flour's dyeing
'Tis ewe, 'tis ewe must count and I must hide.
But crumb ye back when Hummer's in the memo
Or when the galley's flushed and white with roe
'Tis I'll be here in pun, whine or in tableau
Oh handy boy, oh handy boy, I love beauxeault
And if you crumb, when all the flour's dyeing
And I am read, as read I well may be
You'll crumb and find wordplays where I am plying
And kneel and say m-f-d there for me
And I shall hear, tho' soft is bread above me
And custard creams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply 'bake in peace until you crumb to me.
I'll simply 'bake in peace until you crumb to me. |
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I think it's a worthy idea. I once read an actual newspaper obituary that was one of the most lengthy (with one exception -- the Canadian politican Ernest Manning) AND the most personal of any obituary I've come across so far. |
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I don't remember the details but the guy apparently owned a business or two and had the nickname "the Bagelmeister". If I recall correctly the obit went into some detail about how well-liked/loved he was, his exuberant personality and his terrific bagels. I thought at the time -- how cool. |
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I had always thought more people should make their loved ones obituary more personal. It also gives the people who will be finding out this way a nice reminder of why that person was important for them or one or two amusing &/or heartwarming &/or positive stories to remember this person by. |
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Same goes for eulogies which oft-times are rather lacking in the good stuff. So definitely, this idea is a keeper. Oh, and if you want to make sure it's done (and done right) there's a concept called the "creative obituary" (I bought one offered at my church's last services auction) that let's you create a do-it-yourself version of how you'd like to be remembered. |
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The previous post is EXACTLY the heartwarming stuff I was talking about. I'd elaborate but I have to stop typing now as I can barely see through my tears! |
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Big market for smelly kangaroo hides in your part of Oz then [UB]? |
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Many a bad idea did he write. |
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Thought writing "A better mousetrap" was funny. |
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Didn't really understand what everyone was saying but
participated gleefully. |
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Traditional Eulogies just focus on and exaggerate the good things about a person's life. |
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I want a speaker for the dead at my funeral. From the Ender's Game series, this is a person who talks about the person's life without undue praise or criticism, describing his hopes, dreams, efforts, accomplishments, and failures. |
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Hmm. pashute's eulogy sounds uncomfortably like me (link). |
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"He had very few friends, but - uniquely - no living enemies whatsoever ..." |
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[Dr. Bob], that would scare the shit outta me. |
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