After you have been doing this for a long time, you kind of get a reputation. Mine is singing one heck of a funeral.. especially Ave Maria. So one day at a picnic this sweet older lady said in casual conversation - "You know I have planned my whole funeral and you better be around to sing!", Alrighty then.. well then what exactly is the right response?
- Uhm... thanks?
- Thanks for letting me sing for you when you are dead?
- Thank you for thinking of me while you plan your funeral?
As you can imagine, this conversation could go in so many directions because this actually happens quite a bit. Usually I laugh it off and say, "Oh that won't be for a long, long time -" and then I change the subject. Is there an appropriate thing to say other what I am saying? I didn't think so until I spoke to a friend of mine
who happens to be a priest (go figure), and as I was talking to him about it one day.. he said that his reply is "Oh that is very sweet, but I don't take reservations.." What a great response - very light hearted and yet he does not get sucked into the "death talk" which I would think would be hard for a Priest to hear over and over.
So now, when someone is talking to me about their impending funeral - which is probably years away, I say... we shall see.. because I don't take reservations!
What would you say?
- Uhm... thanks?
- Thanks for letting me sing for you when you are dead?
- Thank you for thinking of me while you plan your funeral?
As you can imagine, this conversation could go in so many directions because this actually happens quite a bit. Usually I laugh it off and say, "Oh that won't be for a long, long time -" and then I change the subject. Is there an appropriate thing to say other what I am saying? I didn't think so until I spoke to a friend of mine
who happens to be a priest (go figure), and as I was talking to him about it one day.. he said that his reply is "Oh that is very sweet, but I don't take reservations.." What a great response - very light hearted and yet he does not get sucked into the "death talk" which I would think would be hard for a Priest to hear over and over.
So now, when someone is talking to me about their impending funeral - which is probably years away, I say... we shall see.. because I don't take reservations!
What would you say?
