Like many of you, I miss the comments and insight that Mitch used to regularly provide here. (And I remain flummoxed on why he can’t logon to our site anymore.)
I was fortunate to be on his email list where he frequently shares heartwarming stories, articles and photos. I felt that it’d be nice if we could “keep in touch” with Mitch, even if only virtually and vicariously. So today’s post is courtesy of Mitch.
A Heartwarming Piper’s Tale
As a bagpiper, I was asked by a local funeral director (with whom I’ve worked before) to play at a graveside service for a homeless man who died all alone, with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a newly opened pauper’s cemetery in the remote countryside near where we live, and the homeless man would be the first person to be laid to rest there.
Sadly, I was not familiar with the backwoods area and became woefully lost. Not only being male, but also being dressed in my kilt and sporran, I elected not to stop and ask for directions. I continued to drive around until I finally found it … an hour later.
I saw the backhoe and the digging crew who were taking their lunchbreak, but the hearse and funeral director were nowhere in sight. I figured they waited as long as possible and finally left.
Embarrassed at being so late and unsure of what exactly to do, I apologized to the workers for interrupting their lunch because of my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave where I saw the vault lid was already in place.
I assured the workers I would not hold them up too long, but felt that I needed to fulfill my obligations. The workers gathered around while I solemnly began playing my heart out.
As I continued to play the mournful dirges, I could hear the workers begin to quietly weep. I played like I’d never played before, from Abide with Me, Going Home, Flowers of the Forest, and of course closing with Amazing Grace with the workers joining in song.
Upon finishing and packing up my bagpipe, I headed to my car feeling contrite that I was an hour late and missed the actual service itself.
As I was opening the car door and putting my gear in, one of the workers came up to thank me, saying in a heavy Irish brogue: “Sweet Mary and Joseph, I have never heard nothin’ like that before – and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for over twenty years!”
A Baker’s Dozen Clever Ads and Messages – Courtesy of Mitch
