So, I am driving home today and happen to stop at the light on 67 waiting to turn left onto Camby Rd. I notice a lot of flashing lights headed my way and think, "Wow, there must really be something going on". So, I already know that I am not moving, even if the light for me turns green before they get to the intersection. But, I notice that they are moving rather slow. A police car comes into the intersection to block traffic, then I notice that it is a funeral procession. I am not sure who the procession for, but by the many fire trucks included in this particular procession, it tells me that this person had a part in the fire department. Then, the light for the south bound traffic turns green. The people at the line continue to wait.....which, out of respect, I was always taught that you do. You stop when you see a funeral procession. Does not matter if you are going in the opposite direction or not. And, you do not pass a funeral procession. So, while watching the procession pass while I sit still waiting to make my turn. I see that I am going to be there awhile because I can barely see the fire truck that is at the back end of the procession. I start to hear the impatience coming from the drivers waiting at the light that has now turned green. Mind you, the police car is still sitting in the intersection with his siren blaring. I hear the drivers hitting their horns, not out of respect, on the contrary. They wanted those that were sitting at the green light to move. I sat and watched at least 40 drivers continue on their way as the procession still passed through the opposite side of the intersection.
It made me very sad. Not for the person being taken to their final resting place, but for those that decided they could not stop and wait for 5 minutes to let this procession pass peacefully. For those that found their day more important to continue on when the person in that casket can no longer kiss their family good night. I am sad that I am trying to teach my children that when they start driving, they will pull over and let a procession pass, only to get the bird flown at them by someone who does not realize what they are stopping for.
I still made it home, maybe a few minutes later than I would have, but I am home. I still walked in the door and had my children open their arms and greet me with their smiles and kisses. Even though I stopped and waited for the funeral procession to pass, my day continued.
Would it kill the rest of you to stop and pause for a few minutes to let a procession pass you? Think about that the next time you see a funeral procession.
Just last month, we buried my grandmother. While riding to the cemetery, I saw only a few cars stop and pause while we passed. I also saw a few that decided they would pass us in the right lane, just to turn into the fast food joint, or the shopping center along the way. Was that taco so important that it could not wait another five minutes? Was that sale going to end before you made it to Kohl's? No, it wasn't. You disrespected my family, my grandmother, simply by driving by the hearse to get to your sale and fast food.
On the same note, however, there were people that stopped...a few. And, those few that did stop, they made us smile. I smiled because I knew that all hope was not lost. That there are still a few people out there with some respect for the dead that they would stop and block a lane on a highway just for a few minutes.
So, this brings my little rant to a close. I hope that you will all take a moment to pause the next time you see a funeral, even one that is heading in the opposite direction. And, for those of you that did not take anything that I just took the time to type out to heart.....FUCK YOU!
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