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Better on the Other Side – Friday Fictioneers

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Good Thursday, my readers.  I’ve been struggling with this week’s Friday Fictioneers, trying to come up with something half-way decent.  I admit I’ve been a tad preoccupied this week with the death on Friday of my beloved aunt, Lucette.  Saturday is her funeral.

I have been asked, once again, to give the eulogy.  My cousin feels he’s too close – it is his mother – and says he won’t be able to do it.  I, of course accepted, having already made the decision to say a few words to honour her anyway.

It’s funny, I keep getting asked to do this “job”, having now done it for my grandmother, father, and husband.  I dunno, maybe it’s a calling!  One thing is for sure, there will not only be tears, there will definitely be smiles.  I can’t help it.  I will always try to find the sunshine in the dark; or, as Maya Angelou like to say, I try to be a rainbow to someone else’s cloud.

Thank you, always, to Rochelle for hosting our group.  And this week, thank you to Danny Boweman for the use of your picture (bet you didn’t know Rochelle would choose you this week, eh?)

To play with us, click on the blue frog to add your link.  Not sure how this shindig works?  Click on Rochelle’s name for the how-tos…

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©Danny Boweman

Better on the Other Side

She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain when she comes!

She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain when she comes!

Ever since she opened Rochelle’s email with this week’s pic, the bloody song had become an earworm.

For reasons she couldn’t fathom, the stupid song made her think of her beloved aunt, Lucette

“You’re on the other side now, Matante*.  I do hope it is pain-free and filled with beauty, as they say it is.”

Smiling through her tears, she pictured her aunt:  healthy, rounding the bend, drink in hand, singing the song.  Letting us all know she much better now.

 

*Here in Quebec (well in my family at least) we call our uncles “Mononcle” and our aunts “Matante”, which means my aunt.  We don’t just use the tante.  It has become a form of endearment to the point that we will say something like:  My Matante Lucette…  literally meaning  “My my aunt Lucette”!

107 thoughts on “Better on the Other Side – Friday Fictioneers”

  2. sending condolences and seriously – it IS a calling to be able to do eulogies – you bring the gift of comfort in words and demeanor – so many folks are weirded out with death – and for good reason – I get that – and then it is sad and just heavy heavy – so for you to be able to do eulogies – right on Dale.
    and thanks for the new word – Matante
    love it
    and here’s to the smile on Lucette in her photo – nice FFF post

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Chère Dale,

    You do have a gift for being the rainbow in someone’s cloud. Even turning your own sorrow into a sweet story speaks of it. Thank you for often being the rainbow in my cloud.Lovey, simply lovely.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ma chère amie,

      Thank you most graciously for your kind words. Like Maya, I believe I have had rainbows in my life and it seems only fit to be so for others.

      Feeling blessed,

      Dale xoxo

      Liked by 1 person

  5. A beautiful tribute, Dale. And let me just say from one who’s been ‘there’, it is a beautiful place filled with more love than you can ever possibly imagine. I don’t know that that’s any comfort, but do know that I’ll be saying some extra prayers for you this Saturday. God will be by your side, holding that hand that will be shaking.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I’m sorry for your loss. Funerals are for remembrance, so smiles are highly appropriate, along with the tears. That quote by Maya Angelou is great. I was not surprised at all about the topic of the story itself 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. My deepest sympathies to you my friend. I lost my aunt when she was only 35, she was my best friend ..So remember the good times that you spent with your aunt, keep her spirit alive and honor her, she will be smiling down at you I’m sure 🙂
    .

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I’ll offer my sympathies, too. We all wish for a loved ones a lovely and peaceful resting place — something much different than this week’s photo prompt. 😉
    I’m sure you’ll put your heart into it and do well with your eulogy, so many memories will come to mind before then.

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  18. Dear Dale
    Your struggles with the FF prompt were not in vain – you’ve written a beautiful, heartfelt and heartwarming story. I love the image of Matante Lucette coming round the bend, drink in hand; it tells me such a lot about both of you, and the relaxed, loving relationship you shared. I’m so sorry you’ve lost her, but she will live on in you. All the love she invested in you will bear fruit in your life and you will pass it on in turn to others.
    With warmest wishes
    Penny

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Penny,
      How I appreciate your kind words. So very glad you got my image of her. She was definitely the life of the party when she was at her best. She will live on in many of us!
      Lotsa love,
      Dale

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  21. You keep being asked to do eulogies, Dale, precisely because you “always try to find the sunshine in the dark”. I’m so sorry that you’ve lost your beloved Lucette, who sounds as if she was such a huge character. I love your tribute to her. Will be thinking of you on Saturday xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’m so sorry for your loss. The tribute you wrote here is beautiful and touching, it’s now almost as if I knew her a bit. I think it speaks for your charism, and talent as a writer to use the right words, that you are asked so often. What a wonderful feeling it must be, to be able to give such comfort. When I try to say something, I always sound patronizing. There there, pat, pat… OO

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  23. Wonderful image of your Matante Lucette “coming around the mountain.” Your love for her shines through your words. As former pastor of an aging congregation I always thought the best funeral eulogies brought laughter and the best weddings, tears.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, Björn. That pleases me to no end!
      My cousin, his kids and well, everyone, appreciated my homage and eulogy (by the way) 😊

      Like

    • Thank you very much, Sandra.
      It went quite welll, had the people laughing, which was my goal. After all, we were there not only to mourn but to celebrate her life.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. Dale, very sorry to hear about your Aunt. And, yes, I love that quote, be the rainbow to someone else’s cloud. If we look for the good, we’ll find it, just as those who look for darkness, will find that. It’s just nicer to look for the good. I’m sure you will find warm and wonderful things to say. You always do around here. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Hi Dale, I travelled from Toronto by train to Quebec City. Loved the atmosphere in the old part of the town. Loved what I saw of Canada

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