I'd like to Teach the World to Sing...

[ozzie]

My friend's dad passed last Friday and we have been busy making all the preparations for his quiet and dignified funeral on Thursday. The last few years I have sent them a New Orleans Christmas CD to celebrate the festive season, thinking that they would smile and then toss it in a drawer. Today my friend was discussing something particularly difficult with her mum and was really surprised when her mum said, "You know, this is the first time I've ever wished I was in Tan's New Orleans, Dad would have loved a send off like that!" So, I think I'll pack a few white kerchiefs and a Glen David Andrews CD, guzzle a few wines and try and get all those pollies and pillars of society shaking their collective asses.

And all this time I thought no-one was listening.

[jerseygirl67]

Very very sorry to hear about your friend's dad. But, very nice about the music!!! Give a proper send off and a nice toast to him!!!

[funkkjunkie]

Aw, condolences, oz, but yay for the power of new orleans music.

[Corona]

My friend's dad passed last Friday and we have been busy making all the preparations for his quiet and dignified funeral on Thursday. The last few years I have sent them a New Orleans Christmas CD to celebrate the festive season, thinking that they would smile and then toss it in a drawer. Today my friend was discussing something particularly difficult with her mum and was really surprised when her mum said, "You know, this is the first time I've ever wished I was in Tan's New Orleans, Dad would have loved a send off like that!" So, I think I'll pack a few white kerchiefs and a Glen David Andrews CD, guzzle a few wines and try and get all those pollies and pillars of society shaking their collective asses.

And all this time I thought no-one was listening.
wahoooo Ozzie!!! Do it :) Sorry about your friend's dad though. May he RIP.

[Amyloves...]

So sorry about your friend's dad. That's a great idea on the music though.

And don't ever underestimate the way you touch other people my big-hearted friend!

[ozzie]

Thanks y'all... didn't mean to make it a condolence thread, more a comment on how New Olreans gets into folks psyche without them even being aware of it.

Appreciate the sweet thoughts though... he was a lovely, gentle soul.

[ohio]

Very sweet, Oz.

[glinda]

Cool, oz. May the NOLA tunes bring release and relief to them.

When my aunt was near her death last summer, we sat by her bedside for many hours - her next of kin as she had no children or her own. She was "unresponsive," but we wanted her to hear our voices, so we talked, read some Bible passages, etc. She loved music and singing so I thought I should sing to her. Didn't know what to sing tho. Then I'll Fly Away came to me, so I sang it in a slow softer tempo, if that's possible. I think she liked it.

My mom loooooves When the saints... marches around when she hears it. That's my song! she says. So I will have to convince my sibs that it must be played when her time comes.

[MaloGator]

Thanks y'all... didn't mean to make it a condolence thread, more a comment on how New Olreans gets into folks psyche without them even being aware of it.

Appreciate the sweet thoughts though... he was a lovely, gentle soul.

Maybe he's got a second line going right now...

[festbabe]

Wow - that made me tear up this morning. Share the love-

[tangledupinblue]

WOW Tan, that is truly awesome. It should really make you feel warm inside.

I left one of my compilation NOLA cd's at my sisters house over two years ago and I thought it was sitting in a drawer as well, but it turns out that she carried it from her car to her house stereo nonstop ever since. I couldn't dare ask for it back, just smiled when I would visit and it would be blaring on her stereo. I think I will send her many many cd's for her birthday this year due to reading this thread!

Now go shake dat azz mama and represent Nola and its music. You are truly one special lady!

[piscesgirl]

Now go shake dat azz mama and represent Nola and its music. You are truly one special lady!

Yes you are! Sorry about your friend's dad but it's nice to find out you touched someone's life, even in the smallest way.

[ciscokid]

My friend's dad passed last Friday and we have been busy making all the preparations for his quiet and dignified funeral on Thursday. The last few years I have sent them a New Orleans Christmas CD to celebrate the festive season, thinking that they would smile and then toss it in a drawer. Today my friend was discussing something particularly difficult with her mum and was really surprised when her mum said, "You know, this is the first time I've ever wished I was in Tan's New Orleans, Dad would have loved a send off like that!" So, I think I'll pack a few white kerchiefs and a Glen David Andrews CD, guzzle a few wines and try and get all those pollies and pillars of society shaking their collective asses.

And all this time I thought no-one was listening.

sry for the loss oz, and YYR, get them moving......

[MzJoey]

...and told him what a beautiful person his Tanya grew up to be.
There's a beautiful angel waiting for him in heaven, she'll take him around show where the angels take their coffee breaks...haha
Love to you and your family Tan....
Music has the power to unite, inspire, calm and touch...I think that's why we are here on this bored...

[Frosty]

Totally off topic but somebody around here threw out their refrigerator last week. It was sitting in the front waiting to be hauled away. I looked at the thing and thought, "what kind of place is this where a refrigerator stands alone in the front yard, undecorated".

[rosetree]

So sorry for your friend's loss ozzie.....You have definitely picked the right CD. When I was at FrankFest and Glenn David started singing, it was a "church" moment. Your friend's dad will have a proper send off with that!

[Zydekitten]

That's a truly lovely story, Tan and I wish your friend's Dad all the best and a joyful journey as he crosses the Rainbow Bridge - what a gift you've been able to give him and his family! :)

In other news (to follow Frosty's drift): here's an "only in New Orleans" anecdote . . . Mr. NOLA was driving home the other day and saw a minivan dragging something that had been shut in the van door.

When he got closer, he could see that it was Mardi Gras beads. :D

[NOLA]

Totally off topic but somebody around here threw out their refrigerator last week. It was sitting in the front waiting to be hauled away. I looked at the thing and thought, "what kind of place is this where a refrigerator stands alone in the front yard, undecorated".

Further thread drift....One of my more irritataing Katrina losses was a very old but very cold and reliable beer-only refrigerator in my downstairs "cantina" that I had painted red and green and had decorated with various stickers and magnets, both musical and otherwise. It was a damn shame seeing it out on the curb, all rusty and full of beer nobody wanted to touch (although one of the guys doing the house gutting seemed tempted to open the door when he heard there was beer inside!!).

We now take you back to your regular programming....

[MzJoey]

...and told him what a beautiful person his Tanya grew up to be.
There's a beautiful angel waiting for him in heaven, she'll take him around show where the angels take their coffee breaks...haha
Love to you and your family Tan....
Music has the power to unite, inspire, calm and touch...I think that's why we are here on this bored...

DOH!!
Love to your friend and their family, and prayers for their Pa.
I still would love to tell your family how wonderful you are!!!
love!

[peteup]

Way to go Oz! hand out the hankies at the door and then slip on the CD when the casket comes down the aisle and get the second line moving! Let him go in style. Last year an infamous publican in Melbourne, much loved by local musicians, was given a full on New Orleans funeral with brass band and huge second line.

[Orleansnj]

My friend's dad passed last Friday and we have been busy making all the preparations for his quiet and dignified funeral on Thursday. The last few years I have sent them a New Orleans Christmas CD to celebrate the festive season, thinking that they would smile and then toss it in a drawer. Today my friend was discussing something particularly difficult with her mum and was really surprised when her mum said, "You know, this is the first time I've ever wished I was in Tan's New Orleans, Dad would have loved a send off like that!" So, I think I'll pack a few white kerchiefs and a Glen David Andrews CD, guzzle a few wines and try and get all those pollies and pillars of society shaking their collective asses.

And all this time I thought no-one was listening.

you HAVE to do this........no matter if you think you're going to lose your never when you get there and things are all quiet and somber....just think this outloud...

"You know, this is the first time I've ever wished I was in Tan's New Orleans, Dad would have loved a send off like that!"

[ozzie]

you HAVE to do this........no matter if you think you're going to lose your never when you get there and things are all quiet and somber....just think this outloud...

"You know, this is the first time I've ever wished I was in Tan's New Orleans, Dad would have loved a send off like that!"

Thanks... I'm already nervous so I'll take your advice.

[Corona]

Way to go Oz! hand out the hankies at the door and then slip on the CD when the casket comes down the aisle and get the second line moving! Let him go in style. Last year an infamous publican in Melbourne, much loved by local musicians, was given a full on New Orleans funeral with brass band and huge second line.
That is SO cool!!!

[Corona]

Thanks... I'm already nervous so I'll take your advice.
you can DO this girl.....it will lift their spirits when it happens....are you going to preface it with some words or just start the music?
....please let us know how it went.

[Gards]

Thanks... I'm already nervous so I'll take your advice.

Tan
Good Luck
Some people here in Australia see funerals as sombre send off.
But if a persons had a good life,I think that it should be a celebration of their existince,and a chance to get some joy out of the sorrow.
Just as our friends in Nola do,when somebody has departed.

[Michelino]

And remember the threadhead nation, I've got a copy of DDBB's "Funeral for a Friend", later today, when the Mrs has her coffee, we won't mind doing a little second lining in the other room for the father of a friend of a friend - even if its half a world away. I know the new cat would just love to join in.

[Lostcajun]

Sharing the love that matter shows up in all kinds of ways, and that all I've ever known you to do, Ozzie!

[glinda]

Sooooo...ozzzzz.... what happened? And how is everybody doing?

[ozzie]

Sorry.... I'm a lame piece of chicken shit.

The service was nice. Everyone trooped back to my mate's parents' house for drinks which is when I wanted to do it. There wasnt ANY music playing all afternoon. I slugged down a dozen wines and was going to go for it, but I took me friend's mum aside and told her about it. She was chuffed and said that maybe the family would do it after the guests had left, but she'd rather I didn't do it then. So I left my stash with her and will have to wait until the rest of the mob gets back to Cairns tomorrow to find out if they did it. I bet they didn't.

Wish you lot had been there to fire me up.

[festivalgirl]

Sorry.... I'm a lame piece of chicken shit.

The service was nice. Everyone trooped back to my mate's parents' house for drinks which is when I wanted to do it. There wasnt ANY music playing all afternoon. I slugged down a dozen wines and was going to go for it, but I took me friend's mum aside and told her about it. She was chuffed and said that maybe the family would do it after the guests had left, but she'd rather I didn't do it then. So I left my stash with her and will have to wait until the rest of the mob gets back to Cairns tomorrow to find out if they did it. I bet they didn't.

Wish you lot had been there to fire me up.

I don't think you are the lame one in this story.

If it makes you feel better, even after the conversation I would have tried & Steve would have stopped me. We'd have an argument ... I'd have to drink more .............

So, in your heart you knew it would have been ok & your friend would have loved it (and probably knows you're right and appreciates it wherever he is) and you didn't cause a scene. Cheers!!

[i wanna be in NOLA]

oz, I started to type out pgs 26 -32 of Piazza's, "Why New Orleans Matters" (or at least direct you to them). I know you said you haven't read the book because you can't get past the beginning, but the description of the jazz funeral is precisely what I would like to have read at my own funeral someday. The summary, beginning on pg 31, is perfect. After describing the ritual in detail, Piazza writes,

So which is real, the grief or the celebration? Both, simultaneously, and that is why it is profound. You might sometimes see a mother dancing behind a casket containing the body of her own dead son, with tears of grief running down her face. Most funeral traditions in our society remind us that Life is bigger than any individual life, and it will roll on, and for the short time that your individual life joins in the big stream of Life, cut some decent steps, for God's sake. No individual life lasts forever, and it is the responsibility of those left outside the walls of the boneyard to keep life going. This isn't escapism, or denial of grief; it is acceptance of the facts of life, the map of a profound relationship to the grief that is part of life, and it will tell you something why the real New Orleans spirit is never silly, or never just silly, in celebration, and never maudlin in grief... It is a way of containing the opposites that are part of life in a way that allows the individual, and the community, to function with style and grace, even wit, under the most adverse circumstances.

[ozzie]

Thanks... now I have to read it. :)

[glinda]

...but you already know,oz. What he's written, it's already in your heart.