A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE. Yessir. That's what they call it. This fancy little farewell party that they're havin' for me here. Been ta' quite a few of 'em in my day. Even had occasion to host a few from time ta' time, but this is the first time I've ever had one held in my honor.

Yessir, there's quite a few folks here too. Jus'look at 'em. Would you ever imagine that I know 'em all? Yessir, jus' 'bout each an' every dang one of 'em. Sure is a lot. Never thought I'd come to know so many folks. They're jus' 'bout everywhere 'round here. Almost ain't got nowhere to put 'em. There's so dang many that Mattie had to leave some of 'em back at the house there.

Heard tell of quite a few more who jus' plain couldn't make it out, too. That's alright though. Heck, I ain't mad at 'em. I know how hard it is ta' get 'round sometimes. Guess I'll jus' have ta' be seein' 'em some other time then.

Took me a little stroll 'round outside ta' have a little look, and there they were too, folks all out 'round on the stairs, an' on the grass an' all. All out on the streets even. The parkin' lot is jus' full of cars, an' they're overflowin' all 'round the corner on both sides of the road too.

Funny thing now. This here lil' stroll ain't botherin' me none. No sir, no pain at all. 'Ol Arthur must'a took a vacation or somethin'. Don't seem ta' be hackin' an' wheezin' quite as much now either. I sure feel mighty fine. By golly, I feel almos' as light as a feather.

Sky's lookin' a lil' cloudy. Sure hope it don't get ta' rainin' none or these folks out here are goin' ta' get all wet. Well, sounds like the organ is startin' ta' play, so I guess that's my cue. I'd better be gettin' back inside ta' take my place.

Yessir, there's my gal Mattie right up front there talkin' to 'Ol Reverend Moore. Rascal told me jus' last week that I was the only other man in town he knew 'sides hisself that ain't never missed a single day in church. 'Course, I ain't bother none ta' tell 'im ta' remember of how I jus' sort'a filled in for 'im that one time. It was a Sunday mornin' a while back when he had took sick with fever. I was the head deacon at the time, so I went on 'head, an' managed ta' deliver a pretty decent little praise an'worship service to the congregation. 'Course now when it comes ta' givin' sermons, heck, I ain't no match at all for Reverend Moore. Some folks 'round here say that he could preach for hours under water without ever comin' up for breath not once.

I wonder why my Mattie's lookin' so glum. Jus' look at her will ya'. Jus' as lovely as the day I met her, an' by golly that's been quite some time
now. Yessir, we pretty much came up together ya' know. Yessir, been 'round each other since we was knee high ta' an anthill. Over 65 years in all. Been married for over 50 of 'em. Time jus' made her get prettier with age I think.

Well look there. All my kinfolk an' their young 'uns too. Jus' look at 'em all. Children an' grandchildren, an' great grandchildren even. Nieces and nephews. Great nieces and great nephews. My brothers an' sister, an some of my ol' cousins too. I see lil' brother Caleb made it back ta' town. Heck, he's gotta' be all of 'bout 62 by now I figger', me bein' 'bout 15 years old or so when he was born an' all. An' lil' sis Mae, why she was jus' a tot or so back then too. Yep, by golly, why I can even remember changin' both'a their diapers. Yessir, would ya' jus' look at all these other folks who done come out for me.

Yessir, I see jus' 'bout all my friends and neighbors came out too. Ha, judgin' by all that's here, seems like I must'a been friends with jus' 'bout everybody I ever met. All my fishin' buddies are here, an' 'course good ol' Mel, my checker mate. All the fella's from down at the garage an' the ol' barber shop too.

Sure does do a man proud ta' be seein' an' hearin' all these folks comin' up an' sayin' somethin' nice or funny 'bout 'im. Jus' makin' everybody smile with those memories an' all. Sorta puts me in mind of them celebrity roasts I used ta' watch on the T.V. 'Course now, I only lived a simple life; treated folks right, ya' know, or tried ta' anyhow.

It also makes it kind'a sad that not so many folks showed up for that young fella this mornin'. Ya' know, the one that went an' got hisself all shot up by the police an' all. Probably fittin' for him though, tellin' by the way he jus' rushed by me on his way outta here. Movin' so fast you'da' thought he was bein' chased by the Devil hisself.

All this beautiful singin' an' praisin' goin' on. By golly, I never thought I would, but I'm startin' ta' get a little tired now, so I'm goin' on ta' take my place. I sort'a think them angel fella's over there is kind'a waitin' on me too. Don't wanna hold 'em up none. I know they got other bi'ness ta' be 'tendin' ta'.

Bye now, Mattie. You go right on 'long an' enjoy what's left of this here get together. Tell everybody thanks for comin' out for me. You'll see ta' it that they all eat good too won't ya? Ah! but I already know ya' will. That's jus' the way you are.

Bye now, Mattie. I'll be goin' on now. We won't be 'part for long though. Them angel fella's tell me they'll be back for ya' not too long from now ta' bring ya' on up too. So long for now Mattie. I guess I'll be seein' ya' when ya' get there ta' heaven.