Sunday, May 3, 2009

No Such Thing As The Wrong Funeral

We rush through life everyday, hopefully trying to accomplish something positive, while managing our responsibilities. This morning brought a community email of the passing of someone's parent. I knew the family and felt I should drop everything to attend the services in four hours time. I knew these people and wanted to be there in this time of loss.

The services were meaningful and respectful. The sons spoke very well. The Rabbi's were eloquent. The community gathered together on short notice. At the end of the service the pallbearers lead the family out through the center aisle. Only then did I realize that this was not the person I thought of in the morning, but another family in the community with the same name! 

I'm glad I went anyway, this is another fine family, but I was a little rushed this morning. Our true opportunities are few and far between, each day offers up some kind of chance.

I would never say I was at the wrong funeral. I sat there thinking of Jack Kemp's passing today as well. Her's was Alzhiemer's, his was cancer. We get the most out of our time if we're lucky.

Pioneers For A Cure exists to raise funds for artist selected charities. Our initial catalogue is new recordings of old Israeli pioneer songs to fight cancer; The Postcard Project. Next up is American pioneer songs later in the year, also to fight cancer. Could a later collection fight Alzheimer's? I hope so. Micro donations over the net are growing everyday.