The roots of education are bitter...

It is the spring time of the year when kings go off to war and students leave their institutions of matriculation. Instead of imparting congratulatory remarks to those graduating this year I would like to provide you with a few quotations. Even if your graduation has long past, take a moment to reflect on wise words from our society’s brightest.

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau

“All our dreams can come true…if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss

But maybe I don't want to know . . .

In the last year I have learned more about food and nutrition that I ever thought I would…and I’m not finished yet. One of the most interesting topics I have read about is why we eat what we eat when we eat it. The number one reason people eat specific things is…tradition.

One aspect of food tradition is nostalgia. Now, if you know me you understand that I am the most nostalgic person you’ll ever meet. I have had family on my mind recently. It has been a tough year for us. We have lost family members and we have had some move. At one point, my whole mom’s side of the family lived on the same street! (Minus the grandparents who were three blocks off of the same street.)

But back to food… While I was dropping off some donations to be taken to Alabama I saw a guy eating some Vienna sausages. My first thought was a memory of my grandfather sitting in his chair eating Vienna sausages with mustard and a Martini. (We did have some class.) I started talking with this guy and I mentioned that I hadn’t had Vienna sausages since my childhood. He threw me a can and thanked me for bringing so much stuff to the donation center.

I didn’t bother to tell him that I am a vegetarian, or that I don’t think meat should ever come in a can. I took it. So tonight, in the name of nostalgia, I opened the can, rinsed them off, found some mustard, and made a Martini. It was nice. However, I’ll not do it again for a very long time. First, I need to know what “mechanically separated chicken” is.

The Time Has Come . . .

Ask any college musician how to make some quick cash AND gain valuable performance experience and you hear two words: Weddings and Funerals. The pay is good and the audience is not paying much attention. Perfect. While in college I had wedding and funeral packages that I could do at a moment’s notice. After college I got out of the wedding business. Too much hassle. But funerals I continued to do. It was a pretty smooth transition since I worked at a funeral home. When a family wanted a musician but didn’t know who to pick I would step in and offer my services. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have done the first and last verses of How Great Thou Art. (Commonly referred to as How Great the Wart.) I would step out of my funeral director duties for two minutes to sing, and then jump into the funeral coach for the slow drive to the cemetery. It was never personal. It was never special…to me. (But hearing comments like, “That was mom’s favorite hymn,” always made me feel good. Another satisfied family.)

Now, I have not worked in the funeral industry for five months. I have, however, still been asked to sing a funerals. On Friday night I was approached by a long time friend who asked if I would mind singing. A funeral didn’t cross my mind. He asked me outside of the high school as I was watching the Prom Walk-In with some friends. When I said yes I just assumed that the local Rotary club needed some entertainment for their upcoming All-American Picnic or something. But when this long time friend mentioned that his father was not going to make it through the weekend I knew that this was going to be something different.

Maybe it is because I am familiar with funeral services, or maybe it is because I am a musician, but I have frequently thought about what music I would want at my own funeral. Just so more people than me know I will share this with you. At the graveside I want a Drum Corps style group to play Amazing Grace. Now, this isn’t your average rendition. If you’re not a DCI fan I encourage you to Youtube The Phantom Regiment’s version of Amazing Grace.

Okay . . . so the funeral I’m doing this week does not involve a Drum Corps . . . or even Amazing Grace. I have been asked to sing the one other song that I have always envisioned to be done at my own service. I rehearsed it today. Honestly, it was the first time I have ever done the song. You see, it is a little sacred to me. A creed. This is not something that I take lightly, and I still have yet to get through the song without crying. But I know that come Thursday morning at 10:00AM I will be able to say that I did it . . . My Way.