So, so good, Larry. Brilliant storytelling! Giving us the prankish fiction followed by your father's rather remarkable life (both in its normalcy and in all he experienced within that realm). I'm smiling and both moved and charmed by your story and your talent.
This literally made me laugh out loud! This is such a wonderful and unique way to honor your Dad and I will forever view the stories told at funerals in a different light
Thank you, Chao. "Laugh out loud" is one of the things I'm aiming for!
By the way, did you ever read the essay about my mother's funeral? The eulogy there is exactly what I read at the service. Since you liked this one, you may get a giggle out of the older one. https://thepositivepessimist.substack.com/p/goodbye-mom
I love this essay Larry. It goes right to the heart of who your dad essentially was, and who you really are, with the magical proficiency of personal story.
Oh snap, Larry! This is profoundly good; so many details of tenderness and love that arise in those days immediately after a death, along with seemingly incongruous, totally weird thoughts and feelings. As I read along through the prank story, and your disavowal of it, I wondered if maybe you were spontaneously downloading features your dad's life in a probable universe, knowing his heart as you do. That I would believe.
Thanks, Alden. That's an interesting question. I really have no idea, however. These images simply came to me as I was talking on the phone, and the notion of sharing *that* stuff with the rabbi occurred to me in a very brief moment -- which I immediately shut down. Then again, in terms of his life in another dimension, never say never.
If I have all my faculties when it's my turn to circle the drain, I want someone nearby with a recording device. Maybe I'll add this to my living will, or whatever...
Larry, only you could make me laugh out loud in an essay about something as heavy as loss and legacy. Your gift for weaving humor through the deepest truths is extraordinary. It never diminishes the weight, but rather somehow makes the meaning land even more powerfully. Your dad clearly left quite a legacy behind in his son. This line in particular got me:
“And, pulling my own covers, I am absolutely certain that fans of the Boston Celtics are the Spawn of Satan, crazed, fire-spitting mutants cloaked in green jerseys.”
Thank you for sharing both the tenderness and the irreverence — it’s inspiring.
I like to aim for the "ha-has," and if deeper stuff manages to come through as well ... all the better. I'm discovering that reflecting on elements my past is literally rewriting my personal history, a benefit I'd never anticipated when I started this several months ago.
Larry, this is just so great. I think there’s no limit to your ability to fuse delicious, hilarious warped wit into heart-felt storytelling. You did your dad oh so proud with this.
…i’m not so sure that the afterlife might not be the perfect time for a prank…i oft think of the greatest tombstone epitaph of all time, noted flatulent legend Leslie Nielson (famous for using a fart machine during his interviews amongst much other brilliance), whose tombstone reads quite simply…LET ‘ER R.I.P. …
This reminds me of the funeral service that I attended, where the deceased had been in the entertainment business. Everyone who got up roasted him, and at the very end, an actual fat lady sang. I'm so glad you didn't "tic out" any of your Walter Mitty fantasies of our Father's life to the rabbi. Larry, you surprised me with a truly stunning tribute to our Dad.
So, so good, Larry. Brilliant storytelling! Giving us the prankish fiction followed by your father's rather remarkable life (both in its normalcy and in all he experienced within that realm). I'm smiling and both moved and charmed by your story and your talent.
Thank you, Chris. I always appreciate your support and YOUR storytelling.
This literally made me laugh out loud! This is such a wonderful and unique way to honor your Dad and I will forever view the stories told at funerals in a different light
Thank you, Chao. "Laugh out loud" is one of the things I'm aiming for!
By the way, did you ever read the essay about my mother's funeral? The eulogy there is exactly what I read at the service. Since you liked this one, you may get a giggle out of the older one. https://thepositivepessimist.substack.com/p/goodbye-mom
Anyway, thanks again!
I love this essay Larry. It goes right to the heart of who your dad essentially was, and who you really are, with the magical proficiency of personal story.
Love it. I was so worried you were going to pull the prank -- and so glad you didn't. Lovely little journey you tookus on.
Oh snap, Larry! This is profoundly good; so many details of tenderness and love that arise in those days immediately after a death, along with seemingly incongruous, totally weird thoughts and feelings. As I read along through the prank story, and your disavowal of it, I wondered if maybe you were spontaneously downloading features your dad's life in a probable universe, knowing his heart as you do. That I would believe.
Thanks, Alden. That's an interesting question. I really have no idea, however. These images simply came to me as I was talking on the phone, and the notion of sharing *that* stuff with the rabbi occurred to me in a very brief moment -- which I immediately shut down. Then again, in terms of his life in another dimension, never say never.
Thanks again.
That’s what I thought also, the probable reality.
Our Larry is really blossoming these days, isn't he?
He sure is.
Have you seen this? This is how it's done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEygbbZK-u0
That dead guy is a genius!!
If I have all my faculties when it's my turn to circle the drain, I want someone nearby with a recording device. Maybe I'll add this to my living will, or whatever...
Thank you for sharing this.
Yeah, I love the idea of one last gift to the people who--hopefully--will be feeling loss.
Norman, that video is EPIC!
20M views. No wonder.
Kathy, if you get a chance, check out Norm Leonard’s Substack, All Kinds of Funny, do so
:)
It's the best that death has ever been done.
Sure raises the death bar
Larry, only you could make me laugh out loud in an essay about something as heavy as loss and legacy. Your gift for weaving humor through the deepest truths is extraordinary. It never diminishes the weight, but rather somehow makes the meaning land even more powerfully. Your dad clearly left quite a legacy behind in his son. This line in particular got me:
“And, pulling my own covers, I am absolutely certain that fans of the Boston Celtics are the Spawn of Satan, crazed, fire-spitting mutants cloaked in green jerseys.”
Thank you for sharing both the tenderness and the irreverence — it’s inspiring.
Thank you Rachel. Much appreciated.
I like to aim for the "ha-has," and if deeper stuff manages to come through as well ... all the better. I'm discovering that reflecting on elements my past is literally rewriting my personal history, a benefit I'd never anticipated when I started this several months ago.
Anyway, thanks again!
Larry, this is just so great. I think there’s no limit to your ability to fuse delicious, hilarious warped wit into heart-felt storytelling. You did your dad oh so proud with this.
Thanks Kathy.
Somewhere I think the ol’ boy is up there, sitting on his cloud, giggling…
…i’m not so sure that the afterlife might not be the perfect time for a prank…i oft think of the greatest tombstone epitaph of all time, noted flatulent legend Leslie Nielson (famous for using a fart machine during his interviews amongst much other brilliance), whose tombstone reads quite simply…LET ‘ER R.I.P. …
My all-time favorite epitaph: I TOLD you I was sick!!!!!
…never get better Larry…never get better…
This reminds me of the funeral service that I attended, where the deceased had been in the entertainment business. Everyone who got up roasted him, and at the very end, an actual fat lady sang. I'm so glad you didn't "tic out" any of your Walter Mitty fantasies of our Father's life to the rabbi. Larry, you surprised me with a truly stunning tribute to our Dad.
Thank you, Flori. And Happy Birthday (+1 day)!
I'm discovering that, by recording life experiences in retrospect, I'm literally rewriting my past; it's all about perception.
And I LOVE the roast / fat lady-singing funeral.
In the same vein, someone sent me this clip in an earlier comment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEygbbZK-u0
That was hysterical! This dead guy had quite the sense of humor!