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Four Funerals and No Weddings

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The past few weeks have been so tough As you can clearly see Four funerals for us to attend But its not made me teary The first was Aedan’s he was a lovely young man I worked with him at school when he was aged eleven He told me then he wouldn’t be long on earth… At aged 20 he now plays his x box in heaven We attended Derek’s funeral the very next day There were tears of laughter that’s all I can say The vicar John is a hilarious guy I could picture Derek laughing from his place in the sky Vicar John told a joke about a priest and a nun… I didn’t expect to laugh and have so much fun The next funeral was for a lady called Jean (You don’t usually attend a funeral for a person you’ve never even seen) But the family needed help to rig up a PA system So those in the overspill hall could join the service and listen My husband and I had worked tirelessly To install speakers and wires that no one could see With microphones rigged the church service was relayed And we joined in the hymns when the church organ played We de-rigged the equipment and were given cakes and tea The church goers were delighted and praised my hubby endlessly Today we went to the funeral of Bob our lovely friend He had bravely battled ill health right to the very end My son came from London and he sat on the pew next to me There was a massive smile for him from Bob’s wife named Mary After the service she gave my son a huge hug and I heard her say "Seeing you in church was the best thing to happen on this sad day" In memory of Adean Kennaugh, Derek Nicholson, Bob Doyle and Jean Vernon 08-11-17

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Kevin Shaw

Date: 8/29/2017 4:59:00 PM

Hi Jan, you have a way with words that makes the world alright, no matter what happens. Beautifully written and a nice tribute to those passed. Sadness, grief, bittersweet and fun, kind regards, Kevin x

Jan Allison
Date: 8/29/2017 5:35:00 PM

I have faced many traumas since i started writing and now i use my poetry as my stress relief and i find i am almost wrapped in a protective bubble and i don't let things get me down and try and tackle things with humour. I wrote my 'flumbo's and fluffetts' poem about Bob's farting - his widow asked me to do it and we still laugh at the names they had for their wind lol:-) hugs jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 8/15/2017 1:57:00 AM

Blessings to you and giving you strength to keep going... Hugs ~*

Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2017 2:52:00 AM

I'm fine Eve its been a difficult time but the only thing that made me teary was hearing the music and hymns at the funerals as these were very 'personal' pieces of music and I now know of a Manx poem called 'Mona's Isle' which was turned into a hymn which is sung to the tune of Love Divine and that was sung at 2 of the services and it touched me very deeply:-) hugs jan xx

Alexis Y.

Date: 8/12/2017 9:07:00 AM

Hi Jan, What a moving tribute to your friends and Jean. I'm with Mystic, you and your husband sound amazing. I know you are so happy your son is home. My condolences I am so sorry for your loss- Alexis

Jan Allison
Date: 8/13/2017 12:10:00 PM

Thanks Alexis it was an honour to be asked to help out at jean;s funeral and to be able to relay the service only took his expertise and a few hours of our time on two days but it really was a privilege to be part of the day:-) hugs jan xx

Roy Pett

Date: 8/12/2017 6:57:00 AM

A beautiful tribute and I salute you and your families strength and kindness by supporting the deceased families, thanks for sharing Jan.

Gary Smith

Date: 8/12/2017 6:18:00 AM

A moving and fine tribute Jan.

Jerry T Curtis

Date: 8/12/2017 5:32:00 AM

A Fine tribute indeed

Jan Allison
Date: 8/12/2017 5:54:00 AM

Thanks Jerry and its great to see you back on soup:-) hugs jan xx

M. L. Kiser

Date: 8/11/2017 8:48:00 PM

Beautifully penned, despite the sadness you've been through; that's eerie how Aedan knew he wasn't going to live long. Going so young, I know the loss was difficult.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/12/2017 2:01:00 AM

He had a life limiting condition and his mother had always been very open and honest with him about his life expectancy - he chose all the music fr the funeral and died peacefully in his sleep:-) hugs jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/11/2017 8:32:00 PM

This is incredible how you put them all together. They will be memorialized as four funerals that you attended in just one week. That last one must have been so hard. Was he the man you had been telling me about this past year. I'm sad he never was able to make it.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/12/2017 2:05:00 AM

It was in the space of 3 weeks Andrea but the first two were on consecutive days and the others on Wednesday and Friday this week so they were very close together. I started the poem on Wednesday when i was waiting for the funeral to start. Its a good job we got there very early as one of the pieces of equipment had failed and hubby had a back up amplifier - i said it was ok as it had 'died in church' lol. He tried to fix it at home but it really is kaput. I'd told you of Aedan in the past he really was a remarkable young man and he was always telling jokes and making me laugh:-) hugs Jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/11/2017 6:42:00 PM

What a beautiful tribute for your departed friends Jan. I know how much it means to you to have your son back home. I am sorry for your losses. : )

Jan Allison
Date: 8/12/2017 2:07:00 AM

Its been a tough few weeks for many reasons and having my son home is the best thing to happen Connie... but I can still write funny poems at the drop of a hat and added a limerick to Dales collaboration last night:-) :-) hugs jan x

Russell Sivey

Date: 8/11/2017 5:32:00 PM

This is a remarkable write for sad events that have happened! I sorry for the losses you have gone through, and I'm glad that you get to see your son, at least that will make you smile! You will make it through all of this, as we all have done, and things will come back to normal soon, but the memories of these people will live on forever in your heart! Great Work!!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 5:41:00 PM

Thanks Russell, seeing Mary's face today when she saw my son was something I will never forget, she had tears in her eyes but a massive smile on her face and I know his presence meant the world to her and as for me I've not seen him in 7 months so it was wonderful for me to have him at home again:-) hugs jan xx

Harry Horsman

Date: 8/11/2017 5:27:00 PM

Your certainly a wonderful writer of stories Jan, this comes home as one unfolds each line,,,truly a beautiful poem, so glad to have been able to read this...

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 5:39:00 PM

Thanks Harry I began the poem as I was sitting waiting for jean's funeral to start and finished it today after Bob's funeral this morning. I find writing so cathartic and every funeral was so so different and it was actually very simple to write about each one:-) hugs jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 8/11/2017 2:39:00 PM

- A wonderful poem with smiles and tears, Jan - Sorry for your loss and these sad weeks - A pleasure your son came home :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thanks Anne-Lise its been one lot of sad news after another but it was an honour to be asked go to Jean's funeral and set up the PA and hubby got so many thank you's from people who otherwise wouldn't have been able to hear the service:-) hugs jan xx

John Hamilton

Date: 8/11/2017 11:17:00 AM

Very sad write Jan, I can sympathize with your loss, I lost 2 friends last year, the pain is unbearable, but it does pass. The hope of the resurrection keeps me going!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 4:49:00 PM

Its been a tough 3 weeks John and I find humour keeps me going and I'm lucky I can write it at a drop of a hat:-) hugs jan xx

Tim Smith

Date: 8/11/2017 11:00:00 AM

It is so sad but brings back special memories. These tears. . I swear I was cutting onions

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 5:08:00 PM

Aww thanks for the comment Tim. I felt emotional today but I find its the music and hymns that get to me and having my son home has been so so special:-) hugs jan xx

Dale Gregory Cozart

Date: 8/11/2017 10:23:00 AM

This is AWESOME!! You've told this story just beautifully! A 7!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 5:15:00 PM

Thanks Dale I hope that is the end of the funerals for a long time to come, I've never known so many deaths in such a short space of time I guess its one of the perils of getting older:-( hugs jan xx

Freddie Robinson Jr.

Date: 8/11/2017 10:02:00 AM

A sad, beautiful tribute to friend and stranger alike, Jan. I am sorry for your loss, but this poem gives me a sense of their missed humanity. Mighty fine poem, as always. Love and joy.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2017 5:21:00 PM

Thanks Freddie, being asked to help with the PA for jean's funeral will always be with me it was an honour to be asked to help out at such a difficult time and so many people came and thanked my hubby afterwards it really was a privilege to be there and know we made a difference at a very sad tine:-) hugs jan xx