The Funeral Go-Bag: A sad but recommended accessory to keep in your car for those times when you can't get home before a funeral.
You'd think that at the age I am, I should have figured this out already. I have family and many friends whose parents are well into their 80's and starting to fail physically. I listen empathetically as stories of falls and moves into assisted living are shared and it's clear that the inevitable end is coming. And yet, when I take a road trip (like a weekend away with friends), I have not learned to keep a go-bag in my car just in case I get "the call."
(For those of you who aren't Jewish, you may not be aware that Jewish burials are traditionally scheduled within two days of the death, which sometimes precludes going home before the funeral.)
As bad luck would have it, I was away with friends for a weekend and got "The Call" on a recent Saturday morning alerting me that a dear friend's father had just passed away. The funeral would be the next afternoon -- 3 hours south of where I was (and 6 hours south of where I live). What to do? There was no way we were not going to be there for our dear friend, but all we had with us were casual (and I mean REALLY casual) clothing.
So, $350 later and 2 hours we'll never get back from a terrible shopping experience at an outlet mall on a really hot day, my husband and I had barely passable attire for a funeral and burial; clothing we absolutely did not need and may or may not ever wear again. And then it hit...
The Funeral Go-Bag! In it lies appropriate clothing and shoes just in case we get The Call again. (Which, now that we are prepared will likely never happen). It's a somber topic, I know, but I want others to learn from my mistake. And I have yet to meet anyone who does not own at least one passable backup outfit (shoes included) without which they can live, to sacrifice for such an occasion. It may not look great, but how you or your outfit looks should be the least of your concerns when attending a funeral.
And should you think this is a crazy Donnarama Dishes idea, remember that the royal family of England ALWAYS travels with at least one black outfit just in case they need to attend a funeral or display that they are mourning. God Save The King!
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