I found a bit of time over the weekend to work on my next #fridayflash story. I'm hoping that it will be done for this week as it takes place, partially, in a cemetery and would make a good pre-Halloween story.I also found time to tour through a couple of cemeteries on Saturday for a bit of background research on this story. They were dead quiet with not a soul in either location. I know, I should be scolded by the church lady for that remark.
I have another WIP that is requiring a bit of online viewing of Catholic masses for a bit of background information. I know what ya'll are sayin'...why the hell heck doesn't Alan just attend a service or two for research purposes.
The fear of spontaneous human combustion, my friends.
My mother has a story she's fond of telling about me as a boy of about 6 or 7 years old...
My parents had me in mass, with my little suit on and the whole nine yards, and mum was getting tired of my fidgeting about and asked my dad to take me outside for the remainder of the service. We had just started walking up the aisle, my wee hand clasped in his, when I blurted out, "Please don't belt me daddy!" Needless to say I was hustled outside fairly quickly...and my memory is a bit fuzzy about what happened after that! Kids say the darnedest things...and just to clarify...the use of the word 'belt' is a British expression meaning 'to smack' as opposed to the actual use of a belt.
Anyhoo...while researching, I came across a funny video entitled Liturgical Abuses which is a bit of a misconception. It's not so much abuses as a series of faux pas during religious services. Click on that for a bit of a chuckle and try to ignore the annoying laugh track that goes with it. You can link to that here.
16 comments:
I love graveyards, especially the older ones. They're so interesting! And peaceful, of course. Usually. :)
I figure, if something is going to be haunted, it won't be the graveyard. Who wants to hang out in a graveyard after he/she is dead? Now a drafty old Victorian mansion...that's a haunt.
Ha! Liturgical Abuses...I think I saw that book on the shelf once...
(not going to say where)
Thanks for that link Alan. I needed a good laugh!
Resaerch in a cemetery? Grave Robber! And very cute church story. Yikes. How many hail mary's did tht require? ;-)
When I was a kid, I walked into Thanksgiving and announced, to my assembled female relatives, that I knew what a dildo was. As it turned out, I didn't.
Wandering through cemeteries is one of my favourite passtimes. Belvedere cemetery is a great one to wander in.
You'll be hearing from me regarding that WIP with the Catholic masses. Looking forward to that #fridayflash.
Some epitaphs can be real inspiration for a writer; others are just hilarious: "I told you I was sick!"
HAR! Me and Dave LOVED that video.. don't know what was funnier, the cat licking his crotch or the priest reaching down the bride's dress! Looking forward to your flash this week, my friend!
KC- I agree. The older graveyard have much more character than the newer rectangular, polished granite slabs.
Aaron- Would Liturgical abuses have been on the shelf at home or at school? I recall we had a book on pirates at Jr. High with all sorts of nasty pictures. It was very popular.
Debbie- Glad I could pass on a laugh.
Jodi- I tell ya, I'll make sure that I'm planted without my finery. What a waste of good jewelry, putting it in the ground like that (Just my Scottish talking there...)
Nat- Even back then, you were a worldly woman. I'll bet they laughed at you.
Laurita- I've never been there. I went to the pair by Quidi Vidi. Looking forward to your feedback/input on the finer points of the RC.
Milo- That's hilarious. It's get me thinking ahead, now, for something witty for mine.
Cathy- Glad you liked the video. I thought the one where the guy got his hand slapped was pretty funny. Hope I don't disappoint with the #fridayflash.
Research in a GRAVEYARD? My hat is off, brother... Dedication! I look forward to the story!!
Love your church story. I have one from when I was a kid and blurted out during church about a bear that I was hiding behind the minister. I had gotten confused by the song we sang that morning, "Gladly the Cross I'd Bear." Mom still laughs at that one.
Hahahaha I can only imagine the similar church stories my family has about me. Dear god. Literally.
Now I miss the Church Lady :/
Ant- Yeah, but I only had the stones to go in there during the day. I'll use my imagination for the night time setting.
Rachel- It's hilarious how chidren seem to hear something completely different than what was said (or their minds process it diferently).
Katey- You should get them to tell you a few so you can blog them. I miss the church lady too!
I love graveyards, Alan, and there some absolute belters where we are that date back a good couple of hundred years or so if not more. I was at one a few weeks ago taking some photos and there was only one headstone left standing. Nothing malicious or to do with vandalism but it was just that old. Fantastic!!!
Great little church story. I'll check the link out. Looking forward to reading your graveyard story.
Also, be sure to check out Erin Coles blog tomorrow. I've got a story into her 13 Days special that may interest you. The link to it will be on my blog.
The older the cemetery the more interesting the information on the headstones. That's what I usually find anyway.
Oh! I can just picture little Alan W. Davidson, walking down the aisle (with his mini-fez in one hand and his dad's hand in the other) begging openly not to be beaten!
Priceless!
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