Sarah "Zorro" T*****

My mother put the following poem on her blog, and when I commented on it, she mentioned that she wants it read at her funeral. I told her I would make it so (though that particular humorous phrase didn't occur to me at the time).

So I wanted to put it here, with the story of what was said after the request, because it's funny, at least to me, and this way I can print this whole entry out and talk about all of it at her funeral. (and if that seems morbid to you, you don't know my mom, and can take it up with her)

So, first, here's the poem:

All is Well

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I, and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone,

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect,

Without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity,
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval,
Somewhere very near, just round the corner.
All is well.

~Canon Henry Scott Holland~

Anyway, after I agreed to read it at her funeral (and by the way, I have also agreed to put the name that is the title of this post on her tombstone, sans *****) , she told me about a kayaking trip she was planning for that day. As usual, I asked her who she was going with, me being worried about her decrepit state (just kidding, love you mom ;-)! ) Knowing full well what I was thinking, her answer was "Myself". I objected, to no avail, and her response?

"Well, if something should go awry, you know what to read!"

I have a feeling that her funeral will be a mixture of tears and laughter. Her funeral that won't happen FOR A LONG DAMN TIME!!