Spark #2: The Upside of Irrationality

Bliss Pinwheel Party Decorations by Cupcake Social. (So cool!)

Tonight's SPARK challenge is simple: Write about a time you experienced the unexpected. 100 to 200 words. Here is mine ...

The 90-year-old mother of a dear friend of mine died a couple of years ago, and I decided to attend the funeral in support of my friend. I should have been clued in that the funeral would be like nothing I'd ever attended when I entered the creaky old house that served as the funeral home.

I felt like I had walked onto the set of the Adams Family.

Sitting in the cramped space--knees against the back of the chair in front of me--I watched a man (whom the 90-year-old woman had never even met) perform a sort of one-man-show. He read the eulogy, he gave a tribute, he shared words about the deceased, he brought the challenge to the family, he sang a solo, and he led in prayer.

He even shed a couple of well-timed tears.

Between each "task" that he performed, he would put his hands straight at his sides and lower his head like he was resting between scenes in a multi-act play.

I fought hard not to think of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins when the character, Bert, performed the one-man-band at the park entrance, collecting spare change in his hat.

At the end of the funeral, the man (to my surprise) introduced someone who would close the service with a special song. I didn't think I heard the man correctly when he said, "Please welcome Josh Groban." But soon enough, static sounded on the speaker over my head, and Josh's voice filled the room.

That was when--though I was still in my twenties--I decided to go home and write up plans for my own funeral.