instructions for my memorial, part 1

Not to be morbid or anything...I just like to be prepared (okay and always in control, whatever)

Let it be known - I want it to be party-like. Use my party planning books if necessary, but it had better be festive, by God. Wherever people can fit, pretty ribbons hanging around (no balloons), lots of good food & music.

• good songs, in no particular order (like i could tell anyone they're doing it wrong), to be played during a fun photo montage (yes, fun dammit) and during general mingling:
  "One Moment More" ~ Mindy Smith (1st song for pictures - cue sobfest, but it's so lovely)
  "Beloved Wife" ~ Natalie Merchant (I'm not being vain! Stu likes it)
  "The Dance" ~ Garth Brooks
  "Promise Her Anything" ~ Tom Jones (because there should be some levity, and I love Burt Bacharach)
  "American Girl" ~ Tom Petty
  "Don't Like Goodbyes" ~ Harry Connick, Jr.
  "Sky Blue & Black" ~ Jackson Browne (overlooked, i think; listen to it)
  "Let There Be Love" ~ Chris Botti & Michael Buble (these lyrics are fabulous - 'let there be cuckoos' is priceless)
  "Wonderful Tonight" ~ Eric Clapton
  "Endless Love" ~ Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (for maximum smarm effect - better even if someone wants to lip-sync it)
  "Teacher, Teacher" ~ .38 Special (Why not? It rocks!)
  "I Really Got the Feeling" ~ Dolly Parton (Because "I Will Always Love You" will just send everyone over the edge)
  "I'll Stand By You" ~ The Pretenders (listen & weep when you're in that mood)
  "Crazy Love" ~ Ray Charles & Van Morrison
  "Apron Strings" ~ Everything But the Girl
  "In My Life" ~ The Beatles
  "Here Comes the Sun" ~ The Beatles (For the kids; I sing it when I open their blinds in the mornings)
• Throw "Crazy Train" in there somewhere, too, what the hell

Note to everyone: Feel free to use any/all of my ideas for your own funeral! The more merry people at a memorial, the better, I say.

it makes the world go 'round

...and the ride worthwhile

Nominees for Best Heartwrenching, Tear-Jerking Platonic/Lamilial-love Relationship in a Movie are:

• Aurora & Emma (Shirley Maclaine & Debra Winger) in "Terms of Endearment" (I'm afraid I am only small steps away from this kind of mom-mania)
• Damian & his dad and mum (Alex Etel, James Nesbitt & Jane Hogarth) in "Millions" (I hope my son is this brilliant & kind-souled if I die young)
• Frankie & Maggie (Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank) in "million dollar baby" (Mo chuisle! *sob*)
• Billy & his dad (Jamie Bell & Gary Lewis) in "Billy Elliot" (the hugging, the weeping)
• Wilbur & Charlotte in "Charlotte's Web" (I adore her tough-love attitude about the inevitability of death)
• Chief & Randle P. McMurphy (Will Sampson & Jack Nicholson) in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
• Guido & his son (Roberto Benigni & Giorgio Cantarini) in "Life is Beautiful"
• Jumbo Jr. & his mother in "Dumbo" (can't listen to "Baby Mine," can't watch with kids - too much sobbing, they get scared, and I start to curse at the mean lady elephants)
• Elliott & his extra-terrestrial (Henry Thomas & alien) in "E.T."
• Travis & that dog (Tommy Kirk & Spike) in "Old Yeller" (why WHY do I do this to myself?)

Sure, you'll disagree with some of my choices (bff Jen, hater of sad endings), but these make my heart knot up in a necessary way, and that makes them worthwhile in my world.