Canasta, the Pope and Bunco

When we were gone we received a voicemail from Alicia asking us to sub at Canasta Saturday night. The next message said they had called Terry & Carol and they were subbing. I was disappointed since we had no plans but on Saturday afternoon Alicia called back. Wayne had taken ill so he and Pam could not play. We were still available and it worked out for everyone, well, except for Wayne.

We went to church at 5:00. Terry & Carol were there but their pew was full when we arrived so we sat with our neighbors Jeanette & Dick. Afterwards we went to Chik Fil A for a sandwich and then headed over to Alicia & Owen's house.

They had four tables (16 people). We play four games and change partners each time so you get to visit with everyone. It was Owen's birthday so we had some cake and ice cream afterwards. Ted and I were 5 points apart in score but didn't win anything. That's OK. We played well and had fun.

Sunday Rick & Brenda came over. They are traveling from Rockport, TX to Memphis, TN to work for his brother for a few months. We had only this one day to get together. Last year we tried to go to the Funeral Museum but it was a Monday and it was closed. So we picked that to do, wondering if it would be macabre or depressing. But it wasn't at all.

It had lots of caskets (technically 6-sided) and coffins (technically 8-sided) and hearses from plain, simple carts to more elaborate carts and sleighs, all pulled by horses to some very expensive and notable hearses such as a 1973 Mercedes that conveyed Princess Grace of Monaco in her 1982 funeral.

This is a "if I can't take it with me, I'm not going" casket. There is over $600 in money embedded; however, I'm sure the coins are now worth way more than face value.


These fanciful ones are hand painted Ghanaian coffins, the largest collection outside of Africa. Most churches frown upon them.


This is a 3-person casket built for a couple who intended murder/suicide after the death of their child. They changed their mind and the child was buried alone. When the man died the wife asked for a refund from the original funeral parlor. It had changed hands three times and they said "no."



There is a 1916 Packard funeral bus that could carry the coffin, pallbearers and 20 mourners. In San Francisco on a hill it tipped over sending everyone including the deceased onto the street. It was retired and ended up in this museum.

There were areas for Egyptian mummies and sarcophaguses (sarcophagi?), the Mexican "Day of the Dead" celebration, an exhibit on the funerals of most 20th century presidents, Elvis, John Wayne, Sinatra, Gandhi and many others. This is a funeral badge from the funeral of Abe Lincoln.


Embalming came into vogue during the Civil War and a section is devoted to Dr. Holmes who invented it and how it is done.


The next two photos are traditions that have gone by the wayside - a funeral in the private home parlor and a quilt made from the ribbons attached to the funeral flowers.



There is a large exhibit on the death of Pope John Paul II. All the pomp and circumstance that surround a Pope's death, how the chambers are sealed and the ring of the fisherman smashed are explained. There is a section on the process to elect a new pope while the funeral for the deceased pope is being planned. The deceased pope is first put into a cedar casket, then into a lead casket that is soldered shut and ribbons and wax further seal it. Then it is placed in a Douglas fir casket for interment. I didn't know the pope wore red shoes but it is part of their official dress. Apparently John Paul II didn't wear them in life but he wears them in death. Benedict XVI wears them regularly it said. They also had the British Popemobile on display.







After the museum we went to Cheddar's for dinner. Again it was very good, very crowded, very noisy. Then we came home and sat out on the deck until dark when Brenda & Rick left.

Monday was bunco at Carol's house so Ted and Terry went to hit golf balls while we girls played. Afterwards I went shopping and came home with a few new things. I'm just not much of a shopper and didn't stay out long.

Ted has gone to Fort Worth today and will be back on Thursday. That gives me a couple days to myself. Tomorrow is an early Happy Hour in honor of St. Patrick's day. I don't like green beer. I wonder if they'll have green wine?

Til later.