Piper at Funeral

[Bill]

Hello All!

My Wife and I had the bittersweet experiance of attending a friends' funeral yesterday. I say bittersweet for she has endured Bone Cancer these last few months and has now experianced our Heavenly Fathers' ultimate act of healing and has been set free. Our Pastor related to us a converstion he had with Joyce when She first learned of her condition and had decided to fore-go treatment. He asked her if she was afraid to die and she replied "No for I have no regrets." Joyce was a woman of strong Faith who never retired from life even at the end. So it was a sweet experiance as we celebrated Her life and her homecoming.

Joyce was of Scottish heritage and as part of the service a Piper played "Amazing Grace" and another tune I was unfamiler with. I have never had the privaledge of hearing the bagpipes in person so this was a first for me. I got to meet the gentleman who played after the service and had quite a conversation with him about Kilts, Bagpipes, (He teaches the Bagpipe and is a member of a band.)and Scottish Societies. When we parted I recieved a cordial invitation to next years Burns night in Fargo, (ND). BTW my wife was duly immpressed with the figure he cut in his Kilt and Prince Charley. 8)

My Apologies for the length this missive.

Bill

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Bill,

First let me send my condolences for the loss of your friend Joyce.
You family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Don't worry about the length of your post. It
has substance which I think is the important part.
It is an excellent post by the way.

Did your wife warm up to the Burns Dinner offer?
I think I’ve talked my wife into going to one this year.

[Freelander Sporrano]

I'm sad to hear of your loss Bill. I Lost my Mother and Father to the "BIG C".I belive they are in a better place.

Nice to hear your Piper story. I'd take-up the invite.

Never apologise for the length of your posts. You should see some that I have written

[bubba]

Bill, my sincere condolences on the loss of your friend. It's a tough way to go. We have a tradition in our family of having a piper at funerals. It just wouldn't seem proper without one.

[GMan]

Bill,

It is tough to lose friends or relatives, it makes it easier if they are prepared, but it still hurts, I am so sorry.

Having a piper at a funeral has always impressed me, it is a very touching memorial.

[bikercelt1]

Bill, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss but encouraged at the faith and courage with which your friend faced her final challenge. God undoubtably has a special spot for people like Joyce who minister to the rest of us with their faith in the face of illness. Never apologize for the time it takes to share a story like this.

By the way, it's amazing isn't it that an instrument that is frequently reviled can be such a source of comfort and inspiration.

Jamie

[Andrew]

Bill, as was said by everyone else I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. The sharing of the loss with others I find helps in looking at the joy you had spending time with the person throughout their life. In death you tend to find simple happiness in the life that you are still living. Enjoy everyday you still have and never look back dredding what has already happend, for you can't change that. Instead mold your future to what see as a happy life so when your time comes people will look at your life and be happy they got to share it with you.

As for the piper, well you just can't beat the sweet sound of the pipes seeing a spirt off to its next place, wherever that may be.

[macwilkin]

May light perpetual shine upon her, Bill.

I would encourage you to go to the Burns Nicht if you can -- I have been going to Burns Suppers for almost 10 years, and they are almost always a lot of fun -- even more so when you are fully decked out in the "kit".

Regards,

T.

[Aaron]

Bill, know that my heartfelt condolences go out to you and everyone that knew her. She sounds like a woman that chose to meet life head on which in my opinion is the most honorable way to live.

The pipes carry great emotion with them, and even more so when they're guiding someone home. I've yet to hear a rendition of "Amazing Grace" on the pipes without blubbering a bit. Take the piper up on whatever invitation was extended. You won't regret it.

[Bill]

Hello All:

To each of you who replied and to those who did not but wished us well and offered their prayers you have my heartfelt thanks. Joyce was a tremendous blessing to all knew her and her testimony of Faith in the face of death was an encouragement to us all.

My wife and I will certainly take up our Piper friend on his kind invitation although travel in January in North Dakota can be shall we say interesting.

Our Church will be celebrating its' 125th anniversary
this fall and I understand that they have asked a Pipe Band to be there. I am planning to be decked out in my best Kilt for the occasion. Should be a wonderful time.

Bill