'What's coming up?'.....

I’ve had a lot of email in the last few weeks and

months about what’s coming up next in my

undertakings? It’s a hard question to answer.

It seems that I’m always racing with the clock.

I turn the monthly calendar page, and it seems

like just a day later, I’m turning it again.

When you’re in your thirties, forties, fifties,

you really don’t think much about your own

passing.. at least most people don’t. Then all

of a sudden that face you see in the mirror

is screaming at you like… “when did you get

so grey?”

So…..what’s left to do? Hopefully some more

good writing. My final years of being an active

director are over….maybe that’s a good thing,

not sure. My new found love of writing will

continue to hopefully flourish… with a new

book partially ‘in the drawer’, but not quite

ready to talk too much about yet.  I’m hoping

it will be done before the end of the year and

hopefully you’ll want to read it. 

It’s about… well yes, undertaking. 

But it’s about the way it used to be, way

back in 1875. I actually think I was there

and part of it. Possible? Perhaps.

So stand by, stay strong,

love your family, serve your community,

and remember, you DO make a difference

every day, in everything you do... rejoice

in it!

'An old hunk of ice'...

It was a 105 years ago today, April 15th, 1912 that the luxury liner Titanic had a fateful meeting with that ancient piece of ice in the North Atlantic.

In less than 3 hours, she would be at the bottom of the ocean under 12,000 feet of water in total
darkness, taking almost 1,500 passengers with
her.

That iceberg was estimated to have been 'born' as
it were, 1,000 yrs. B.C.


The wreck, not discovered until 1985, continues
to lie in it's resting place(s) pretty much un-
disturbed. Several good things resulted from
the accident; better communications were
mandated, improved construction techniques
were implemented, and better guidelines for
shipping channels in the North Atlantic were
instituted.

Rest in peace Titanic, you made a mark in
history that has placed you and your victims
on a page in history that will never fade.

'Testing our resolve'...

If ever there was a time for major prayer, it is now.
 As Easter approaches we have so much turmoil around 
the world, our resolve will be tested in the days and weeks
ahead.

The situations involving North Korea, Syria and China
are all very very serious matters which should concern
us all. 

 This holiday, take some time, more time to be family 
connected, make a personal sacrifice and extend some 
kindness to a stranger or a neighbor. Let us not take 
all we have for granted......the things we have are way
too precious.

This is a season of renewal, of new hope and for
peace, world wide. 

Be a peace maker, in your own home, in your
own community, in your own school.

2017 will be a time of challenge and reward, but
the end results will be in our own actions....

be a peace maker, you will be strengthened and 
blessed for it. 

'Two years ago? Really?'.....

You know the old saying...can't believe how time
flies by....in another two weeks or so it will be
two years ago that I was a guest at WBZ in
Boston to talk with Dan Rea about my book.

And so much has transpired since then. It's been
a lot of fun and I have to thank all of you for
your support on that project.

The feedback continues as the book keeps
plugging along. I never thought being
a writer was so demanding... many
weeks it's exhausting...but so much fun
as well.

If you didn't get to hear the broadcast in
Boston, just google
Stanley Swan WBZ Nightside...
it will call up the page and you can
listen to the podcast.
                                                                                     
Dan Rea, pictured here in his studio, a great
 host and a great program in Boston...
 'beantown'....my old
stomping ground as a youngin'.....
ha,, I won't even mention how many
years ago...I have to keep a few secrets
you know.

'Choosing your ride'...

Wouldn't be an undertaking blog if from time to time
I didn't take a look at some of the 'tools' of the trade
so to speak... in this case....

here is a sampling of some pretty nice 'last rides'
as I call them ....from time to time you'll see
some weird settings, like a kid riding around in one that he picked up from a junk yard....

a surfer in California with a surf board sticking
out of the back...

A tour guide in Beverly Hills giving rides in
one to famous houses of the deceased...

Oh I wish I had put a few of these away over
the years....

like coins and stamps... old hearses are of
extreme value if they're in decent shape.
Here are a few of the 'oldies but goodies'.

If only they could speak...ah... maybe not,
that would be just too spooky perhaps.

'John Glenn laid to rest'...

John Glenn was laid to rest today at Arlington National
Cemetery.

In the pouring rain, dozens turned out to witness the final leg of Glenn's incredible journey through life...and what a life it was.

If you were around in the 1960's you witnessed the man's flight(s) in space, and what an example he was for those that he inspired.

Through out his life, both private and public, Glenn personified what a true American was... and how hard work, dedication to family and country could bring success.

We need more people like John Glenn. More roll
models like John Glenn....but if you look 'out
there' today... how many come to mind?  Few.

I was thrilled to have witnessed this man's achievements.

From a greatful nation; thank you John Glenn for
being a leader, a dreamer, a success story, and
a true solid American. You made the last several
decades truly memorable for those who watched
and cheered you on. Rest in peace., you have
deserved it...100 times over.

Just some Sunday thoughts...

Facebook has changed dramatically in the last year or year and a half.

I think it all started with the most divisive elections that we've

ever experienced. Politics does bring out the best and worst

in most folks, and that's a bit of a shame. Facebook has lost

it's 'charm', it's family appeal, it's true meaning I think in most

regards. Hearing about one's accomplishments, goals, dreams,

made Facebook a special place, but in my opinion

it has lost it's luster. My gut feeling tells me that FB probably

won't survive to the end of the decade...and something

much better and more friendly will appear to dominate

the web. I'm not spending as much time here as I used to,

and I know many who have also diminished their usage.

Perhaps we all need to just ‘step back’, and look at our posts

and their intents. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

Peace and harmony is after all, the ultimate goal….. maybe

only in our minds, but it’s worth working for. Just my

thoughts.  

'Solving the conflict'...

Someone in your family has just passed

away, and at the funeral home, you and

others are sitting at the arrangement’s

table trying to make difficult decisions.

For discussion’s sake.. let’s say it’s your

father.  Your mother passed away

years ago.. and now it’s just you and

your siblings discussing your father’s

final disposition.

First question to ask yourselves…

‘did dad ever say what he wanted for

himself?’

Your mom was buried after a traditional

funeral with embalming, open casket and

full ground burial. Two of the children

speak up and say dad had told them he

wanted to be cremated, but had never

put his wishes down on paper.

The other two children want a full service

funeral like mom had.

Over the years I have actually experienced

families in ‘verbal combat’ about making

this tough decision. Funeral directors can

NOT be referees….you need to have a plan,

or at least an idea of a plan when you meet

with your funeral director.  And the final

decision has to be unanimous and acceptable

to everyone involved. 

In an instance like this…combine the two

types of service to satisfy everyone.

Have your dad embalmed….buy an

inexpensive casket to cremate him in, or,

use a rental casket which most funeral

homes make available now. Have a viewing,

a service, do the cremation and have the

cremains buried next to your mom. Many

cemeteries now will allow you to bury

an urn on top of the full ground burial

vault which was interred years before. Check

with your cemetery to find out their

regulations AHEAD of time. So in this

instance, everyone has what they want…

a ‘traditional’ type service, with cremation

and burial to follow.

This is just one conflict which can be

rectified without too much difficulty…but

again, don’t wait till the last minute to

make these final decisions. Contact your

local funeral director ahead of time and ask

for his or her guidance…you’ll be surprised

at how helpful he or she will be!