>> Aron: I RECENTLY CAME BACK FROM A FUNERAL, AS A GUEST.

I'M OLD ENOUGH NOW THAT I'VE BEEN TO A FEW OF THESE SHINDIGS, AND I TEND NOT TO LIKE THEM FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

THE MAIN REASON BEING, IT'S COLLECTIVELY UNCOMFORTABLE.

IN A SENSE, A FUNERAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE; THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN HAS HAPPENED, AND AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WE NEED TO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT.

BUT DISCOMFORT ISN'T SOMETHING WE COLLECTIVELY DO.

SO A FUNERAL SEEMS SO OUT OF CHARACTER.

THINK ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T ALL GO TO THE DENTIST AT THE SAME TIME.

WE DON'T ALL EXAMINE OUR FINANCES AT THE SAME TIME.

AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T TALK ABOUT OUR WEIGHT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE, SO WE DO THEM ALONE AND IN PRIVATE.

IN FACT, THE ONLY GROUP DISCOMFORT WE PARTICIPATE IN IS BEING VIKINGS FANS, AND EVEN THAT INVOLVES A GOOD AMOUNT OF DRINKING.

WHENEVER I GO TO AN END OF LIFE CEREMONY, I ALWAYS FORGET WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT.

TYPICALLY, I DO A LITTLE PRAYER, REMINISCE, AND FIND A WAY TO THE OBLIGATORY CASSEROLE OR LASAGNA.

SIDE NOTE: TO ANY FUTURE DESCENDANTS OR FRIENDS OF MINE, WHEN I KICK THE BUCKET, PLEASE DON'T SERVE A VEGETARIAN LASAGNA AT MY FUNERAL.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A WORSE WAY TO HONOR THE DECEASED THAN WITH A MUSHROOM-LACED PASTA.

AT THE LAST FUNERAL I WENT TO, I WAS GIVEN WISE WORDS FROM A CHARMING OLD-TIMER WHO SAW HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I WAS.

HE TOLD ME TRAGEDY IS LIKE AN OLD FRIEND.- YOD FRIEND.- YOU FRIEND.- YOU TEIEND.- YOU TENDND.- YOU TEND T.- YOU TEND TO FORGET ABOUT IT BEFORE IMMEDIATELY REALIZING IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING.

AND LIKE AN OLD FRIEND, IT DOESN'T JUST KNOW YOU; IT KNOWS EVERYONE YOU KNOW TOO.

SO WHEN GIVEN A CHANCE AT A REUNION, SAY HELLO, PAY YOUR RESPECTS, AND DO ENOUGH BEFORE THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE FORCED TO REUNITE.