Funeral Party

My family is strange.

Yeah yeah, I know everyone thinks and says their family is strange. But mine really is. Like, really.

I may or may not have mentioned the fact that my mother is bipolar, but in case I haven't, there it is. Also, all of her siblings have a mental illness in some form or another. Lucky for me, my mother doesn't speak to any of them so I don't have to either. That just leaves my Dad's side of the family. My Dad's parents actually raised me, and I had two aunts that I was very close to growing up. One aunt up and got married to a creep and moved away. The other aunt and I were close up until about five years ago.

Here is where I go all Debbie Downer on you guys.

My aunt was diagnosed with early on set Alzheimer's, and started having a variety of extreme health issues. It came as no surprise when she took a turn for the worst recently and passed away a few weeks ago. Her husband had passed 11 years ago.

When my uncle passed, my aunt decided not to have a funeral. She had him cremated and he resided on her bedside table. Not having a funeral is not so strange in and of itself, but then when my aunt passed away, the same thing occurred. My cousin (her son) opted out of a funeral.

One of my other aunts though, decided that this would not be sufficient. Enter what I have affectionately dubbed "the Funeral Party."

I understand that there is often a reception of sorts after a funeral typically. Not so unusual.

But remember, my family is strange.

Instead of having the "funeral party" at a funeral home or say, my aunt's house that organized the party, she decides that it is appropriate to host the party at my uninhabited dead grandmother's house that is currently on the market for sale. You know, with no running water or electricity. Or furniture of any kind.

So basically all of my relatives will be standing around on the lawn in rememberance of my aunt. It's possible a tent will be rented and there will be copious amounts of food and booze.

A party for a dead person at another dead person's house, yet no dead people will be in attendance. (Or, at least I don't think there will be, I don't know how long it takes to cremate a person. I don't know if my aunt will be back from the bakery or whatever they call that place in time for the party).

Guaranteed at least a few members of my family will be falling down drunk prior to arriving and a lot of unseemly sobbing will occur. Most likely from the people who didn't even like her when she was alive (i.e. my mother). Maybe even a fight or two will break out amongst my cousins.

I would not miss this shit for the world. Granted, it's nice that my aunt will be remembered, however, a "funeral party" is strange to say the least. Especially with my family involved.

That being said, I loved my aunt very much and she will be sorely missed. I hope her and my grandmother are looking down at this funeral party and mercilessly making fun of the idiots we're related to.