Spirit in the Sky

I flew to New Orleans Tuesday night for my Uncle Doug's funeral. The funeral was Wednesday. No funeral is really a pleasant experience but this was particularly difficult for a couple of reasons. One, just about everyone in attendance at this funeral has been impacted in one way or another by hurricane Katrina. As I scanned around the room, I saw many family and friends that lost quite a bit if not everything due to the storm. Two, the death of Aunts and Uncles is particularly tough for me because it forces me to consider the immortality of my own parents. I'm not ready for that.

However, I am very glad that I was there. My Mom spoke at the funeral about how Uncle Doug was the best birthday present she ever received. He was born on her 2nd birthday. A letter was read by a co-worker of Uncle Doug's about what a great teacher and mentor he had been to him. My mom read that letter to Uncle Doug just before he passed away last weekend. If he didn't hear it then, I hope he heard it the second time it was read.

It was your typical solemn, respectful service ending with the funeral home director telling everyone that they were welcome to pay their last respects and then we would be moving to the mausoleum for the committal part of the service. At that point, the song "Spirit in the Sky" started playing quite loudly. I gave my sister the "What the....." look and she said that Uncle Doug requested that it be played. Here are the first two verses of that song:

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best.
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend youTo the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best.

According to my Mom, not only did he request that it be played but he wanted it played with a LOT of Bass. That made me smile.