going home

just went to my uncle's funeral yesterday. didn't know there were high-end funeral services.

when we left their house. one would notice that their dogs looked still. the pit bull was sitting quietly. the basset hound looked brooding. the shih tzu appeared sad. the chihuahua seemed distant. only the dalmatian stayed standing but it was not jumping up and down like the usual.

passing the gate, our convoy was lead by the white hearst. this was followed by a two-door white mercedes benz convertible which had its rooftop down since it carried my late uncle's picture positioned on a wooden stand. next to this was a white sport pick-up isuzu (initially thought it to be one of those ford F4) which carried all the wreath and flowers. then the line of pajeros, starex vans, 1 or 2 BMWs, an RV, land cruisers, crosswinds, and 4-5 other cars. there were nearly 30 vehicles in all. most of them suv's and vans.

as my uncle was brought out of the church after the mass, confetti and petals showered from a helicopter overhead. yea..that was a loud one. the pilot was trying to make the confetti fall directly above the hearst. difficult really. considering that the wind from the chopper's rotary wing kept blowing everything in all direction.

from the church till the cemetery, confetti kept pouring. we were waking the residents as we passed and leaving colored paper as remembrance.

at the cemetery, the chopper came too close to the grave site it nearly knocked over the coffin. it was able to successfully knock over my late uncle's picture frame tho leaving a crack on its glass. it finally left after showering us white rose petals thus bathing the place in floral fragrance. literally. initially thought it to be jasmine. but the scent of the place did change after the petal shower.

white roses distributed beforehand were then thrown to the coffin as it was being lowered. white balloons and white doves were thrown in the air.

then, the ceremony ended. people left. we were among the last to leave.

i went home with a migraine. waw..think i'd rather have myself cremated.

(*picture from jub's cam. white cemetery, sagada. my uncle's funeral was somewhere else.)