Sunday, August 16, 2009

A Beautiful Day

This is the Natchez Trace. It is part of a national park that runs through all of our state and up into Tennessee. It was a part of the Indian Trails and is set aside land not to be developed. It is really a beautiful ride by car, motorcycle, or bicycle. We were headed up to Kosciusko yesterday. You know about that little town, it's where Oprah Winfrey came from. It is also where a lot of Jimmy's kinfolk live.

Jimmy enjoys the drive. I enjoy the ride we always like to go for rides together, we should get out more often. It's saying something when about the only time you go somewhere is because somebody died. I'm thinkin we should improve on that.

I asked to stop for a few minutes at the reservoir and see the boats, it's always cooler out there by the water, it makes me feel blissful just to look at the view. I would really enjoy going out on a boat ride sometime. We talked about that, renting a boat for a day. Then I can call him Captain Hunny.

It was a perfect day yesterday.

Mississippi can be really gorgeous at different times of the year. Yesterday we had perfect weather with a cool breeze blowing across this huge body of water, blue skies and fluffy pretty cotton candy clouds.

The funeral was held at the First Methodist church of Kosciusko, an old brick church that had beautiful stained glass windows in it. It was lovely. Old Southern towns are always built in a square, the state buildings, court houses and churches will all be close together in a city block. This church is close to the city hall. I like all the bumpy roads and tall curbs that happen from the changes in the clay. Old towns here are interesting and full of character.


This was the inside. I know you are glad that I am sparing you a close up portrait of that open casket. A Southern tradition that is practically sacred, it is expected that you go up and pay your last respects and admire all that paint and thick makeup. The expected comment is that the deceased looks so "natural," natural my foot. They look like a mannequin, not my favorite last memory. I am not one to look and linger over painted up remains. After seeing so many people die I am comfortable with the real deal but I do understand that I am a minority in that area. I just go with the flow.

The service itself was lovely. We sang "Be Thou My Vision," and heard "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove," her daughter read sweet memories about her mother and had the composure to do it and to speak loud enough for us to hear. That takes admirable strength. Then we went out to lunch with them and I ate like a pig, cheeseburger, strawberry milkshake, and Cajun french fries. An all American lunch to end a lovely day, and celebrate a sweet ladies life.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.---what is mortal will be swallowed up by life"
2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 5:4

12 comments:

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Looks lovely!

Yep. I mean ripping the yard apart. Moving things, macheteing others. It's a long story and involves a little Brazilian woman!
OY.

Michelle said...

Around my parts there is a dinner, held at the deceased family's home, after the funeral. During the funeral different ladies of the community convene at the home and cook/bring food/whatever so that the family/friends have a huge meal afterwards. I love those stained glass windows.

Chris H said...

The stained glass windows are beautiful.
I agree about how Funeral Directors put too much makeup etc on the deceased person... with my Dad we insisited he have none... and he looked just like himself. It was nice.
Stew's Dad died recently and he looked like a tailor's dummy... so unnatural.
Anyway... I love your photos.

farmlady said...

I remember going to Funerals like this when my older relatives died. I remember,as a young girl thinking that it seems so somber and unnatural. But it's all about the living not the dead.

That stained glass window is lovely.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

beautiful ride love the stain glass and hate the paste on deceased bodies..... :) happy monday!

Unknown said...

The beautiful ride, with perfect weather was a divine gift to honor this woman's life. Peace

Britt-Arnhild said...

Be Thou My Vision is a favorite hymn of mine.

Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...

You don't have a monopoly on looking at the deceased--I was going to say "dead people" but it sounded so unsympathic--anyway, in Utah they have "viewings," where you go to see those d.p.'s and visit with the surviving ones. I think I'll make them stand me up. That'd get people's attention.

WudWerkr said...

I have traveled the natchez trace the entire length and yes its a beautifull drive . You do not however wanna be on it at night traveling and be short on gas . there is NO place to buy fuel lol

the thing i miss most about mississippi is the smell of pines in the summer .

when i smell pines now , it imediately takes me back to the south.

and yes i have been in kosciusko, it has been many years but i have been there.

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Simply beautiful . . . every avenue of this post.

Life is sweet . . . let's celebrate every minute of it.

Now I'm off to Costco to load up the goods and bring 'em home like a merchant ship from afar. I'm taking E & R with me -- we're gonna celebrate at Olive Garden and a trip to Michael's for yarn. Something to celebrate everywhere I look (if I choose to see it).

Thanks for the sweet post of reminder -- life is beautiful and then we cross over to Paradise. Wow! Now that's something to celebrate!

p.s.
I always wondered if the viewing this was to reinforce to those of us left behind that it really is just a shell. We spend so much time fixin' up, maintaining, and coveting the shells and then we leave it behind in the blink of an eye.

Now I'm off to fix my hair with a fresh perspective. Hey! I'll be Fresh Fixin' with a Southern style! (Never do know what I'll carry away from here, that's for sure!) ; D

WudWerkr said...

I thunked of another "southern tradition " i never understood !

people getting there picture taken with the open casket . I have seen it many times , and think it is sooo freekin nuts .

Anonymous said...

You make me miss Mississippi something terrible.