<p>To move this topic into the weird, I acually wrote the obituary for my MIL. </p>
<p>Whom I did not particularly know well and absolutely did not love.</p>
<p>It was quite cathartic and a bit of poetic justice.</p>
<p>Funniest obit I ever read was that of an older English gentleman. After listing all the clubs to which he belonged (great names BTW) it said that he was the senior member of the last family in England to employ a Fool.</p>
<p>“I’m depressed - send for my Fool!”</p>
<p>Wow, zm! I’d love to read that one.</p>
<p>It wasn’t nasty, NYMomof2, but it was honest in a way that she probably wouldn’t have liked. However, the writing of it and the reading of it helped her daughter and me to come to terms with some things about my MIL that were very hurtful.</p>
<p>When considering her life, she had kids and grandchildren, but was the least maternal person one could meet. We always thought she was cold and uncaring and resented it – particularly her daughter. MIL was a little old Italian woman, an identity which brings certain stereotypes. She couldn’t cook, she wasn’t much of a housekeeper, and she was not maternal. But she had other wonderful qualities that were overlooked because in her youth she had no real option other than marriage and motherhood. My SIL and I both came to really understand that she envied our choices and that her dreams and aspirations had been thwarted. So when I wrote her obituary, I listed other things about her but didn’t include her children or grandchildren. Her sisters totally got it and loved the obituary, but I think my MIL would have been furious because she really wanted everyone to think she was the traditional Italian woman. MIL was awful to me, vicious, even, so I had some enjoyment in doing something that would have made her angry, but on the other hand I think the obituary and the writing process were helpful in having her remembered more positively by her entire family.</p>
<p>I am with Busdriver in thinking this piece of writing is being overly loved.</p>
<p>He was a old guy in an under shirt who hung around KOA’s eating bacon sandwiches and complaining about his health. And he had a mother. And wife. Blowing that up into "natty dresser, “ladies man”, “foodie” and “accomplished traveler” is a mildly amusing joke. But its just the same joke repeated.</p>
<p>Speaking as a know-it-all Yankee, I have to disagree with him about daylight savings time. :)</p>
<p>But then, he didn’t live where there are long, light evenings in June and it gets dark by 4:30 in December. I’d like to have it all year round.</p>
<p>I’ve been mulling over this post for the past few days and it brought to mind a song by Tom Lehrer about an obituary that he’s read. It’s quite funny and I thought I’d share it here. If any of you are unfamiliar with Tom Lehrer, then I’d encourage you to look him up on youtube and listen to a few of his songs. They are hilarious.</p>
<p>The lyrics are here: [ALMA</a> LYRICS - TOM LEHRER](<a href=“http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Alma-lyrics-Tom-Lehrer/DA50884731EAF2F848256A7D00256E43]ALMA”>http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Alma-lyrics-Tom-Lehrer/DA50884731EAF2F848256A7D00256E43)</p>
<p>Listen here: [Tom</a> Lehrer- Alma - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>My daughter met the daughter today. Says she was really sweet and real. Great interview on abc.</p>
<p>Here’s an obit from the Post and it really makes you stop and think about what can be accomplished in a lifetime.</p>
<p>[A</a> Local Life: Aqiq Khan, Indian-born doctor, dies at 77 - Washington Post](<a href=“http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-09/local/37006101_1_daughters-urdu-medicine]A”>http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-09/local/37006101_1_daughters-urdu-medicine)</p>