FUN WITH DICK

          In August of 2004 my guardian, Dick, passed away in Las Vegas.  As September rolled around I made arrangements to return to Las Vegas with a group of friends and retrieve Dick’s ashes.

          My friends and I see humor in the oddest places.  For instance, several of my friends and I planned for a day of shopping right after I was to pick up Dick’s ashes.  Now, when Dick was alive he disliked shopping so much his plan was to go straight to the items he needed, buy it, and then leave.  This behavior infuriated his wife immensely when she was alive.  So upon picking up Dick’s ashes, the girls and I took him shopping.  We all got a huge laugh at this. I could see families back home now as they ask, what did you do with Dick when you went shopping?   They would never understand I have Dick in a box in the trunk.   Sick humor, sure, but it allowed what would be a morbid subject, lighten our mood.  And the fun didn’t stop there.

          A few days later upon leaving the motel, one of my friends was to bring my car around the front of the motel so we could place our bags in the trunk.  Now remember, Dick is still in the trunk and as with all good friends there is always the unexpected remark.  As my friend made his way across the lobby another yells “Now don’t be slinging Dick all over!”  The only people laughing at this remark were the eight of us.  Others who had no clue as to why that remark had been so funny looked very perplexed as we rolled in our seats!

          This humor allowed a lightening up of my spirit.  The group knew that this would be a difficult time for me.  Every day we have friends or family that passes away and usually these are very sad and depressing times.  Arranging the funeral and deciding on internment of our loved ones can be traumatic.  To bring humor into the mix, my friends allowed me to reach back and enjoy the memories of Dick.  The group who had supported me understood that humor would allow my healing process to begin.   I can reflect on the idiosyncrasies of Dick in a different light and it in no way diminishes my love and respect for him.

copyright 2005, Lynn Scheuer