I’m writing my dad’s eulogy for the family service in Kansas next week, which is probably the hardest writing project I’ve ever had to do! I can write for about two minutes before I get teary and the screen goes blurry.
How to sum up a whole life, a whole person in just a few paragraphs?
Impossible.
June 26, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I was coerced into delivering the eulogies for both my mother- and father-in-law. Don’t try to summarize their entire life. Just share a few thoughts and feelings of what your Dad meant to you and your sibs.
Good luck and condolences.
June 26, 2008 at 4:36 pm
You can do it. Just write for a while and then, when you’ve gotten everything out that’s on your mind, extract a theme and pull together a few sentences around it. Then do that again in a few days with a new mindload of stuff. Keep it up until you’ve assembled a collage that explains who your dad was. I’d bet a variety of little tidbits will be at least as good as a single, coherent story.
June 26, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Aww {{{{ HUGE HUG }}}} You can do it- a wonderful one.
June 26, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I haven’t been by in a while and just enjoyed catching up on all your adventures. This current challenge is a doozy, but with your many talents you’ll shine. Hugs from a neighbor, K.
June 26, 2008 at 8:07 pm
That is so hard to do. I remember from six years ago having to do this. Know I’m thinking and praying.
June 26, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Dear dear dear Yogamum, sending *HUGS* & a reminder that you won’t be delivering your eulogy to strangers but people who knew your dad well. They will be there because they loved him & they love you. Your words–whatever they are–will unite all present in celebration & thanksgiving for him because you are all already united in missing him.
And it is wonderful that you can’t sum it up all he did & all he was & all he meant in a few paragraphs… because it shows how much greater he was.
Will be thinking & praying too.
June 27, 2008 at 8:41 am
He is lucky he has you to write it. Thinking of you.
June 28, 2008 at 9:12 am
I’m glad I didn’t have to do it for my father. However, the minister who did it knew him well, and she focused on two aspects of him – his voice, which was warm, deep, and welcoming, and his hands, which were big and gnarly. She talked about how many people were drawn in by his voice, and what he did with his hands. So maybe you can focus on one or two things and draw anecdotes or facts in based on them.
Blessings.