I am thinking of having a Wake for my 40th birthday. The event will be on Nov 13th (Sunday) probably in the afternoon.

Why a Wake?
Well, first, this is me we are talking about. I do drive a toy hearse. Not that I am goth or anything, I just have a weird sense about me.

But I also got to thinking about what we do when people are alive and when they are gone. When people are alive and we want to make them feel special, we Roast them. We tell horrible stories and jokes at their expense. I don’t like this idea. When you are at a memorial or a funeral, people tell stories about the person that is gone. I have attended a few for people I didn’t really know and have felt sorry I didn’t get a chance to know them better. And for the people I did know, I learn things I hadn’t heard before and I miss the chance to get to know that side of them. It would be much better if this was done before the person died.

So I am turning 40. Some of you may know that I have grown up not planning to make it past 42. I have been sort of forced to give up that idea but 40 is still the last big milestone most people would recognize (I have special plans for 42 since it is personally important to me). Many things have changed inside me over the last couple of years. I have had what I think is incredible personal growth. A lot of how I look at life and other people has completely been rewired. Sometimes I wouldn’t believe I was any other way if I didn’t remember whining and moaning about how hard it would be to do what I am doing easily now. I have moved on from my old life, gradually but I don’t think I can ever go back so probably permanently. This would be a good time to mark this and bury the Gina that was and celebrate the Gina that is. I have always wanted people to be celebratory when I die. Why not practice early?

I am torn between having it as a real Wake with eulogies, a memorial service, a drink to the fact that I was here celebration, encouragement that if you would attend my funeral to attend my Wake. Or just a Wake themed party and whoever shows shows.

One thing I do know is in lieu of presents, I want Gina stories. Written, recorded, drawn, whatever. I plan to have a recorder with me. I think it would be good for me to know what people remember of me and how people have seen me.

What, me, self centered?!?! Of course I am, it is my birthday, I am allowed to be self centered. :)

Comments would be appreciated.


{edit to correct date. Wake will be Sunday afternoon Nov 13th. I thought I put the 13th in the first time but guess not.}

8 thoughts on “

  1. fwiw..

    There was a long time in my life where I thought the likelihood of my making it to 25 was less than 50%. so, when #25 rolled around, I thought it was important to mark the date, mostly as a way of making sure Death passed over me. to assuage my own superstitions (mostly), my birthday party was a wake at the local Irish bar/restaurant in Bloomington. we drank yards of guinness, laughed, joked and told stories.

    About a month later, I got Albert, my fantod tattoo (that’s not actually Albert, but is similar to him. albert is standing still, and more dignified. :-) ) both as a guardian of sorts, and also a marker for putting away suicide thoughts.

    in shorter words: I think if you want to hold a wake for yourself, it’s a damn fine idea.

  2. Gina Stories

    I love the story idea! Hmmm… I have so many of them. The challenge is to pick the ones that are appropriate for public re-telling.

    “Starts with a ‘P’, ends with an ‘N’, has a ‘K’ in it.”

    Out E-Vill birthday present to Mike.

    ;-}

    1. someone put me up for the night??

      If you’re not allergic to cats or odd houses filled to the rafters with old stuff, weird stuff and old, weird stuff, you’re welcome to borrow the spare bed here at the House of Pewter. We’re just a few miles from Gina.

    1. Re: Date???

      I hope she means Sunday the 13th since the night before is the big Pit of Scorpions B-Day celebration for all the Scorpios in our ever-widening circle of friends; and I would love it if she could make it to the Pit this year.

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