Monday, March 01, 2010

A Bagpiper Tale . . .

Warning! If you hate to laugh, DON'T read this tale. :)  If you're needing a laugh today, read    on . . .

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back-country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight.

There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down, and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around . . . I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, and we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car.

Though my head hung low my heart was full.

As I was opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "Land of the living, I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for over twenty years!"

Quote: Wouldn't it be nice to have this said about you? Consistent and persistent!
 
Blessings

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Caroline,
For years, I have said I want to learn to play the bagpipes. Most people think that's nuts. I guess it's the latent Scottish blood. Then we heard some in Nova Scotia last summer, and it was wonderful!

Caroline said...

They are fascinating, aren't they? I have a young friend, of scottish blood, who was learning. Don't know if he still is or not.

My advice, for what it's worth. Do it!

Kathryn Page Camp said...

Have you ever seen the Tatoo in Edinburg? I have, and it was awesome and uplifting. Bagpipe music can be heavenly.

Caroline said...

I haven't seen it, but I can imagine . . . Lovely!

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