bluejeans07: (Reach)
bluejeans07 ([personal profile] bluejeans07) wrote2008-04-12 07:59 pm

It's a funny old life...

I've never been to a funeral before and this one was slightly atypical. For one thing, the girl who has passed away was a childhood friend, we played together in kindergarten and first grade, but we went our separate paths after that. I'd see her around in middle school and high school but we never had the same classes and we hung with different people. When I think of her, I still remember her as a little girl with crimped hair and a polka dot black and blue dress, and sometimes I see glimpses of the teenager she was with long black hair, big hoop earrings and thick eyeliner. She djed and loved music and she was a cheerleader, while I watched anime obsessively, formed a club around it, and pretty much the Queen of Nerd Town. I was the only one from the "nerd group" to go to her funeral... and it was so odd because all those feelings from high school came back. I saw the girls and the guys who... well, weren't my friends but we knew each other. They all remembered me and there were many hugs and tears shed. When we were asked to share a memory, I did stand up and recite how I remembered exactly what Sheryl was wearing when she came to my birthday party when I was in the first grade, how we never really remained friends but saw each other around and how different we both became.

I think this whole experience was harder on my mother than it was on me. She went with me to the Sheryl's funeral and she cried when the family spoke... it's a lot more about how Sheryl was the same age as me, and I think it's really struck her on the possibility of outliving one's child...

Emotionally, I'm exhausted. Last Saturday, I was around people who cried out of happiness because two wonderful people were joined for life. This Saturday, I was around people who cried out of sadness because a wonderful life was cut short.

[identity profile] re-white.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
This July my friend will have been dead three years. Hers was the first funeral I ever attended. It was terrible and hasn't really ever stopped. Point is, I know exactly what you mean. *hug*

[identity profile] bluejeans07.livejournal.com 2008-04-14 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
*hugs*

[identity profile] perrie.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 10:39 am (UTC)(link)
Oh sweetheart. I'm so sorry - funerals are upsetting as it is, and to go to one for a friend is even worse. *big hugs*

[identity profile] bluejeans07.livejournal.com 2008-04-14 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks... it is pretty upsetting even though they tried to keep it up-beat. There was a lot of laughter but to see how many people were taking the loss was upsetting. I guess I feel a lot of guilt because I wasn't that close to her and I didn't really cry. Maybe it really hasn't sunk in yet...

Re: It's a funny old life...

[identity profile] crpsaiyan.livejournal.com 2008-04-14 01:21 am (UTC)(link)

It's always hard to say goodbye to someone, whether it was expected or not. Take it from someone who lost four young people in her life from illnesses. The one thing I will say about their deaths is that they all taught me a lesson to not take life for granted, no matter how old or young you are. If there's anything you need, I'm here for you, and I'm not just saying that either. Blessed be.

Re: It's a funny old life...

[identity profile] bluejeans07.livejournal.com 2008-04-14 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed. I tried to go out and just look around this weekend at things and think about life... but I'm feeling kind of numb. I'm waiting for it to pass. *hugshugshugs* Thank you.

[identity profile] cactus-sandy.livejournal.com 2008-04-15 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
:/ It's so sad to hear about funerals. I haven't been to one yet (hopefully I won't have to anytime soon...) but it seems like you went from one emotional high to a huge emotional low in one week which can be really difficult :/

Death always reminds us of how fragile life can be. I don't think there's anything wrong with taking personal days if you need it. If you need someone to talk to - you know I'm here.

[identity profile] bluejeans07.livejournal.com 2008-04-15 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
Funerals are definitely very depressing... and I think you're right that I've been hit with a double whammy so I'm just completely exhausted.

I guess fragility of life is something I don't usually think about considering my strategy always has been "work hard, keep going, keep planning" but it's never like... 'normal things' like moving out from home. I focus a lot on my career and my own projects and stories that I develop... and I really don't like the idea of never ever finishing one. That's pretty much what I've been feeling and even though I try to focus now, it's hard because I'm just tired.

Hey, wanna be a pirate? I've been playing Puzzle Pirates to distract me, it's free. XD

[identity profile] thebluelady.livejournal.com 2008-04-15 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I think funerals for childhood friends who died young are the worst. I don't think i will ever really recover from losing one of my best guy friends at the age of 18. It hurts in weird deep ways that you can just slave over but in time it becomes bittersweet mixing memories with loss.

I hope that you are feelign a bit better by the time you read this *hugs*

[identity profile] bluejeans07.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
*hugs* I'm feeling a lot better. :D Are you back?