It's A Man Thing

Bagpiper at a  Funeral

As a  bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by  a Funeral director to play at a graveside service for a  homeless man.  He  had no family or friends, so the service was to be at  a pauper's' cemetery in  the 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, 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  opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I nver seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently I'm still lost .... it's a man  thing

2011