Thursday, June 2, 2011

It Was Like Attending My Own Memorial Service

So.
I turned 50 yesterday.
It was a working day.
I work for a touchy-feely ministry.
You can see where this is going, can't you?

In order to recognize the occasion, (my half-way to dead birthday) they had a funeral party for me.
Wonder what that would look like?
Let me tell you.

We met in the bistro. (Erhm, also known as the lunchroom.)
We sat around the table. My supervisor skyped in from Portland. So his head was at the table too.

It started with me stating I was uncomfortable with the attention, and would be happy if we just skipped this part and went straight to the cemetery restaurant. My suggestion was ignored.

Everyone was encouraged to ponder my character, think of one they'd like to comment on, then, looking into my eyes, affirm that character trait to me. We start at that side of the table and work all the way around to the face on the laptop monitor. No, not awkward at all.

Within 20 seconds of the first person blessing me, both my eyes were overflowing hot tears. I asked them to pause the proceedings, zipped over to the bathroom to grab a box of kleenex, then gave the OK to carry on.

It was lovely; they said the nicest things.
Apparently I'm not a total loser.

And then, as if this wasn't QUITE enough, the pastor in the room, the one who speaks to God with holy, beautiful, poetic, meaningful words, prayed a blessing for me.

And then they lowered the coffin into the ground. And threw some dirt on me.

No they didn't.
We went out for lunch. Where, for dessert, there were cupcakes. And candles. And a few brave souls singing happy birthday to me.

Then I went home where Drew and Danica were sitting shiva watching The Game.

We ate sushi and cake:

















Clint dropped by to yell at the TV for two hours. Then there was that goal, he cheered, and left.
Two friends dropped in to offer their condolences have tea. And a couple dozen friends wrote on my wall. (This is a facebook term. No one actually grafittied my real walls.)

It?
Was a lovely birthday.

Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Mmmm. There's an icecream cake in my freezer.
2. Tonight, I finally completed my online census form. It SO DID NOT take just 5 minutes. Thankful that it's done.
3. Thankful for John and Val's sweet "Happy Birthday" duet left on my voice mail.

Shalom,

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow. I am pretty sure I would expire altogether if subjected to such an outpouring of blessing as you received from your co-workers. On the other hand, what a memorable day. And what wonderful people you work with. Just think of the fun when you turn 100!
Here's to that day!
Blessings ;0

Kim