The Memorial Part II

H stood up and read from the Silmarillion. As soon as he told me there were passages from that particular book he wanted to read, I knew what they were. I've never been able to finish the book, but I had read those passages. They were about the creation of the world with music. And it was wonderful and appropriate as music made up so much of Allen's life. H and Allen shared so much through music... it was wonderful.

R kept telling me he couldn't find anything, and I knew he would, hell I knew he had something in mind as soon as I mentioned it, but he wanted something else for some reason. That I couldn't understand.

He had a poem he had written. He said he knew from the moment I mentioned it that it was what he needed to read, that it had always been about Allen. So he read it. It was perfect. He spoke for a while about how he and Allen were brothers, by chance and by choice although not by blood. And then he did my favorite thing. He quoted John Cleese from Graham Chapman's funeral.

“Alright, Cleese, you’re very proud of being the first person to ever say ‘shit’ on 

television. If this service is really for me, just for starters, I want you to be the 

first person ever at a British memorial service to say ‘fuck’!”

I laughed so very hard at this. I think I was the only one who laughed out loud, I know H smiled because he was sitting beside me. None of my family was offended and none of our friends. I know some of Allen's family was offended but I didn't find that out until later, and really... I didn't care. I know he loved it! After R my sister CH stood up and told the crowd about the verse she felt God gave to her to pass on and then I stood up, thanked everyone for coming and invited everyone to lunch that the ladies from my families church's provided. 

Allen's family refused to stay, they preferred to go eat lunch at the Cracker Barrel. I had almost had my limit of talking to the crowd and my friend DM (he was my best friend in High School) came up to me and asked me if I wanted to just walk around the park a bit. (I did) and I walked and talked to him for quite a while. Allen's mom came up and said something to me at one point and I don't even know what she said, but I remember looking at DM and telling him that whatever it was she said, was only to benefit other ears because I knew how she felt about me when she snubbed me to hug R. I don't really want to feel that way, but I still do. It's ok, she didn't want to be a part of our lives as we wanted to live it when Allen was alive. 


After walking around and waiting for the crowd to die down I went over to eat. I said goodbye to people and helped clean up. Then my family left, DM left. Then R, H and I took A over to the Montevallo campus and walked all over. Talking about memories of good times, pointing out where we used to hang out, and things that had changed since we had last been there. We told stories of Allen and talked about other girlfriends he had while he was there. 


It was a great day. Warm, sunny and lovely. 


It was time to go back to R's house, for a nap and some quiet time. Later we would sprinkle some ashes together.