"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. "
~John Lennon


Monday, September 23, 2013

Bagpipes

This is one of the last things my mother mailed to me last year. It was a newspaper clipping a friend had sent to her.

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out and my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played Amazing Grace the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never see nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently I'm still lost.

8 comments:

Brian Miller said...

ha. too funny....maybe we should celebrate the small things...like putting in septic tanks...hahaha

i love the bags...

DJan said...

Oh, that was funny! And so poignant, knowing that it was a gift from your mother. That septic tank has been put to rest in style! :-)

Jeanie said...

Good story and nice to know that it was sent to you by your mother. That is certainly a well-celebrated septic tank. :)

Ms. A said...

Hahaha! Thanks, Cici, I needed a chuckle.

stephen Hayes said...

This is a great joke and one that always makes me laugh. Thanks for making me smile today.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Ha!!! I so did not see that one coming. Hysterical.
xo jj

African Refugees said...

I like it. Thank you for sharing.

Hilary said...

Ha.. too funny. Gotta love those unexpected endings.