Somebody That I Used to Know

One of the strangest side effects of the work that I do, is that I've become the unofficial death expert amongst my friends and family."My friend's uncle died, can you talk to her?""Hey, we went to school together a few years back and I lost my mom, can we chat?"Sometimes it's just a plain old " I got your number from person 'x', they said I should talk to you".I'm more than happy to be that person for my circle, but I must admit, it's strange when this happens-- always having to be "on" at a moment's notice.What's even harder, is performing services for people I knew.  To close the casket, one final time, in a church that's more than familiar to me, surrounded by people I've known since childhood.There is a huge amount of trust that is given to a Funeral Director when someone dies.You are given a front row seat to their family's grief, resentment, laughter, and dirty laundry.You are inadvertently given access to a window that very few others are allowed to peek through.You are trusted to go into someone's home, take their loved one, and ensure that they are laid to rest in a respectful and dignified manner.To call it an honor doesn't quite cover it. I honestly don't know how to put that feeling into words. It's just....different.There's no story here, just the ramblings of your friendly neighborhood Funeral Director.I guess what I'm trying to say is.... thank you. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for letting me in. Thank you for allowing me to serve your family.Thank you.