The Utter Strangeness of it All
The night before last went to the funeral home to say goodbye to a friend. The line was huge weaving in and out through the entire building with an hour to 2 hour wait. As I waited in line, I began watching the people around me and I came to a startling conclusion. Waiting in line for a funeral is exactly the same as waiting in line at an amusement park for, perhaps, a roller coaster.
The human mind is a strange organ indeed, but consider:
The people behave the same. They peer around the line trying to see how close they're getting. The watch closely to assure no one breaks ahead of them. The talk, laugh and sit or lean on any object available. As the approach the end they become more animated standing on their tip toes in anticipation. You can almost hear the sigh when they finally enter the room to view the coffin.
Of course, the emotional content is different. Sorrow at the funeral, exhilaration at the roller coaster but both are a type of release. Strange to see the similarities I know perhaps I was having an avoidance reaction causing me to ponder this, but the similarities were eerie.
posted by Death Warmed Over | 8:55 PM
5 Comment:
You were probably avoiding the subject at hand. nothing to be ashamed of there, as funerals are a very difficult situation and environment. Yes, I've seen this type of behavior before. You never know how to act, like you're at class reunion? A social event? Like a sobbing fool attracting looks from everyone? I don't like funerals but it's one of those things you have to do.
I'm sorry about the loss of your friend.
is it so strange that extreme emotions form these similar patterns in our group psych? Startling, maybe morbid, but somehow not surprising.
I pray you found the release you need and my thoughts are with you.
Maybe their reactions had to do with dreading geting up to the coffin more than wanting to get up there.
Thanks for comments all. I was hesitant to write the post because the subject was so...odd.
onmy-thanks and you're right the best way to avoid something is to think about something else the stranger the better.
fatty-I am fascinated by watching people. Group think and reactions are interesting until you realize how easy it is to take the same group enjoying a concert and turn them into a mob.
bbe-you may be right but what struck me was how normal the people further back in the line were acting. Talking laughing, looking at their watches, drinking a coke. And when anyone asked "how are you doing?" the answer was always "fine, and you" I think there is a universal human behavior for waiting in line. Thanks for visiting!
I went through this at my own mother's funeral and I just couldn't believe it. Funerals are for the living and to commerate our love for those who have passed. There is something rotten in the state of human behavior at times.
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