May God have mercy on this blog.
Can’t explain it but as the Squire ages more funerals seem to populate his calendar. We take Yogi Berra’s guidance: if we don’t go to their funerals they won’t come to ours. Got us obsessing about Life’s Last Picture Show.
Impressed by the turnout at Dennis O’Loughlin’s visitation last week in DeForest WI. Police on motorcycles! Not one but three priests to officiate the funeral Mass! Served with Dennis on Dane County Board. Told mourners he was probably more responsible for building the present courthouse than any single member.
Isn’t that what life is all about, Alfie? We want to be remembered for something that has lasting meaning!
The Lovely Lisa is pestering The Old Guy to write his obituary. Must it be accurate? Think we’ll kick it up a notch, as the celebrity Cajun cook would exclaim. One thing that shall not be reported is manner of death. Unless our demise is the result of a shoot-out with the Communists. (Hey, that could work!)
What was the purpose?
Remarkable how many obits relate that Dearly Departed was a Packer fan but omit as irrelevant what the man actually DID! Was there no plot to his life? Christopher Wren advised those looking for his monument in London’s St. Paul Cathedral to look about them. In our case, is anything more ephemeral than an on-line blog? Our name does adorn the monkey house at Vilas Zoo but the monkeys are gone. For all our striving, maybe we should have paid more attention to Number One Son.
Is it hypocritical to ask a priest’s blessing if you don’t believe in an after life? If we are proven wrong, will we be able to chat up one of the Apostles? Attilla, you look nothing like your picture! Does heaven keep a separate section for Neanderthals? Otherwise, eternity sounds like a very long time.
If there is to be a service, what be the music? What does Stairway to Heaven sound like on a church organ? Our list of all-time favorites was lost to the ether when our computer crashed. (Now THERE is a metaphor.) The list did include Roger McGuinn’s Ballad of Easy Rider, after Wyatt and Billy get blown to psychedelic smithereens:
Flow, river flow, Let your waters wash down;
Take me from this road to some other town.
Flow, river flow
Past the shaded tree.
Go, river, go;
Go to the sea.
Flo-oh to the sea.
Where to plant me
We’re thinking of a great fire — but not on a pyre. Ashes to ashes. Despite the Ballad, don’t sprinkle me into the Yahara; I can’t swim. Maybe an urn. But on what mantel? Considering the columbarium at Sacred Hearts cemetery in Sun Prairie. (Like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, we’ll rent to own at first.) As long-time customers, could the Blaskas get a group rate?
Don’t want to be Eleanor Rigby, who “died in the church and was buried along with her name. Nobody came.” Maybe we could team up with somebody popular so as to assure a nice crowd. A two-fer. Maybe door prizes.
As for our stuff, the women who pillaged Lila Kedrova’s bedroom in Zorba the Greek had the right idea. (Why are we hanging onto every computer we ever owned, even the TI-99/4?)
Blaska’s Bottom Line: When the financier J.P. Morgan was asked what did he want, he answered “More.” Works for me. Unlike a certain former President, we’re still getting prostate exams.
5 responses to “R.I.P. David Blaska (some day)”
Here lies David Blaska.
“‘Twas an Insurrection”
Good one. Is thar an A.I. creation, One Eye? Methinks not.
Speaking of epitaphs, here’s one I’ve posted previously. It’s too good. 70s comic David Brenner actually had it carved on his stone: “If This Is A Joke, Then I Don’t Get It.”
Yup.
Here’s a story you’ll probably enjoy on the subject of epitaphs. The court of Charles II–known as the ‘merry monarch’ (r. 1660-1685)–was renowned for the number of wits and raconteurs who lent their talents to entertaining the king. One day, someone proposed a contest in which they all write an epitaph, in verse, for Charles, who readily agreed. Lord Rochester, the winner, penned these lines, “Here lies our sovereign lord, the King/ Whose word no man relied on./ He never said a foolish thing,/ And never did a wise one.” Far from being offended, Charles replied, “The matter is easily accounted for, as my discourse is my own whilst my actions are my ministry’s.”
Geeze Dave, bring us down… OK, so get this out of your system & now please get back to provoking the lefties – that’s your epitaph right there. I see that the local angry Dems are feeling left out and are planning a ‘march’ on Saturday downtown. We all remember last time that sort of thing occurred – the cops stood back while the frenzied mob tore the shit out of State St. That great street has recovered finally, but will the mayor see fit to let law enforcement do their job this time? I’m guessing plywood is hard to find right now.
for whom did the bells toll? they tolled for thee.