The Past Is Not Past
Sep. 20th, 2016 01:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
waitingmanAn overnight trip to Tamworth on Sunday/Monday for the funeral of Max Goodridge - a friend of my Father's from his time 20-30 years ago as a WW2 Jeep-owning 4WD lunatic enthusiast. L-SP & I drove up on Sunday afternoon in teeming rain for the funeral on Monday morning. As excuses for a roadtrip go, it's not a great one, but we'll take it. It was also a chance to try out the new satnav we picked up for the impending trip across half the USA (very) soon. Tomtom the SatNav wasn't aware of the existence of the little town we were heading to, so mapped us to a church in a not-quite-as-small town that was fortunately just 10 minutes away from our actual destination. Can't wait to drive across the American desert with Tomtom... must remember to pack extra water. And food... and blankets
When we arrived at the right church, we were fortunately recognised by a couple of my Father's friends, who'd come to his funeral last year, so knew what we looked like. As we milled around the Jeeps parked outside, I eavesdropped on conversations to identify faces & names from all those years ago. After some introductions were made, I could see them searching their memories for the quiet teenage son of their late friend & reconciling that image with the quiet middle-age man before them
A very religious Service - hymns, readings & prayers a-plenty. Certainly enough to test the patience of a Buddhist & an agnostic. When it was over, we joined the convoy of vehicles I assumed were heading to the local Club for the Wake, but no... we were headed to the Cemetery for more prayers & readings. Then the President of the regional RSL Club stepped up & delivered the eulogy for Max the WW2 gunner & the Last Post was played. THAT'S when my tears arrived, as past & present Servicemen placed poppies on his casket
We then followed the staggered convoy to the Club, where I toasted the departed with his favourite drink... & coincidentally mine. Cakes, sandwiches & some reminiscing about not only Max, but my Father & all the fun & trouble you can get into when you combine WW2 Jeeps with typical Aussie bravado & add a little social lubricant. I miss those days & was telling the absolute truth when I said that I never quite forgave Father for selling his Jeep... always thought I'd wind up with it. Maybe some day I'll get my own. Soon...
And it will look like this... I'll even wear the hat
Anyone for a roadtrip?!
When we arrived at the right church, we were fortunately recognised by a couple of my Father's friends, who'd come to his funeral last year, so knew what we looked like. As we milled around the Jeeps parked outside, I eavesdropped on conversations to identify faces & names from all those years ago. After some introductions were made, I could see them searching their memories for the quiet teenage son of their late friend & reconciling that image with the quiet middle-age man before them
A very religious Service - hymns, readings & prayers a-plenty. Certainly enough to test the patience of a Buddhist & an agnostic. When it was over, we joined the convoy of vehicles I assumed were heading to the local Club for the Wake, but no... we were headed to the Cemetery for more prayers & readings. Then the President of the regional RSL Club stepped up & delivered the eulogy for Max the WW2 gunner & the Last Post was played. THAT'S when my tears arrived, as past & present Servicemen placed poppies on his casket
We then followed the staggered convoy to the Club, where I toasted the departed with his favourite drink... & coincidentally mine. Cakes, sandwiches & some reminiscing about not only Max, but my Father & all the fun & trouble you can get into when you combine WW2 Jeeps with typical Aussie bravado & add a little social lubricant. I miss those days & was telling the absolute truth when I said that I never quite forgave Father for selling his Jeep... always thought I'd wind up with it. Maybe some day I'll get my own. Soon...
And it will look like this... I'll even wear the hat
Anyone for a roadtrip?!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-20 03:50 am (UTC)Unless your dream Jeep looks like a blank white box, the image didn't come through.
buzzie
(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-20 03:57 am (UTC)Nice Jeep.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-20 04:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-20 04:05 am (UTC)Thanks for explaining. So, you didn't get the Jeep but you got the hat?
It's a start and I like the hat. :))