Friday, February 15, 2008

Gryphon's Word of the Day, February 15, 2008

The word of the day for February 15, 2008 is "funereal" — adjective1 : of or relating to a funeral. 2 : befitting or suggesting a funeral (as in solemnity).

We got word last night that Lloyd's uncle by marriage died Monday. Uncle Elliott was in his ninties. He had lived alone for some years after his granddaughter, whom he had raised after the death of his wife, moved halfway across the country to Washington D.C. post-university degree. His daughter lives in California. Unc is to be buried beside his wife in Omaha, so we are gathering from all around the country.

Lloyd feels as though he has just gotten a generation older. Unc was the last close relative of his generation. Now Lloyd and his generation are at the head of the line. He has two cousins in Omaha—one older, one younger than he—and an older cousin in Denver and the much younger cousin in California. There was another cousin living in Florida, but we have lost touch with her. Still it seems so few and so far between. Plus our children are also dispersed far and wide. If we lose touch, so do our children.

Cecil Beaton, on automatic insurance machines in US airline terminals, It Gives Me Great Pleasure John Day 55:

     On close inspection, this device turned out to be a funereal juke box—the
     result of mixing Lloyd’s of London with the principle of the chewing gum dispenser.

;^) Jan

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry that Lloyds Uncle has died. It is so strange when all our relatives go. I knwo two years ago when our youngest Aunt died we were all quite devastated as she was the last of the line in my Fathers family so we are all alone now...except for a few cousins.  I have areal story for the word of today "funereal2 but it is a boit long for here so will maybe send it to you later..also as it is laughable perhaps not quite right for now !!  Love SYbil xx

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear of Lloyds Uncles passing ,I know how he feels about being a generation older thats where Im at now !...love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

I am now the matriarch of my family...even though there are still 2 aunts from the previous generation alive.  One is an in-law & the other has severe dementia.  It takes an attitude adjustment to come to grips with what it means to hold the family history.

Sorry for your loss.