Clap Out Day

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Today’s Blog Post


Clap Out Day
This is a special day for our granddaughter Emma. It is “Clap Out Day”!

The school she attends has its top grade as Grade Six. Today she is leaving her Primary School and heading into Junior High in September. Today all of the Dads and Moms together with all the Grandparents, and whoever wants to come, will stand four deep in the school hallways – on each side. As the kids will leave their class room for the last time – we will all clap heartily for them… and cheer them on.

This is their grad day so to speak. They are no longer be little kids. They are moving on to the next level in their lives, growing up and going on.

In another two years they will be a Grade Eight Grad, then in a short four years there will be the Grade Twelve Grad!

Whoa… hang on… that’s way to fast for me!

At the same that she is being clapped out of this school… I am growing old way too fast. Mixed with the pride I have for Emma and the feelings that we have for her growing up… is that nagging feeling of my own time slipping away.

My own life now is flying and sizzling with new opportunities that are simply amazing. In many ways I feel that I am being clapped out as well.

Emma is going up and I am… well… going somewhere too. Maybe not up to the next grade… but closer to a graduation too.

No it is not morbid to think this way. It is realistic.

The difference of Emma and me is that she has more time to plan her next steps. My plan has to be sure and now. There is not enough of it left to blow it or not be ready for the next exam.

If you are just passing into the latter part of your 60s or perhaps have arrived into the 70s – you will know that feeling of the impending “Clap Out”.

Now a funny thought for me is my final day above ground. You know the one that we will all go through. In my mind it will happen this way.

What ever takes me will have happened. I will be lying there waiting for that next and final step… the Funeral Service… that time when the family will gather, they will say some good words and talk about what Grandpa was like… some will cry and some will laugh. We all know that part will come. Right?

Well it is at that point that I have asked my wife and kids to consider the music that I would love to have played. Are you ready for my thought on this? I want the CD played at full gusto of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band blasting out “Old Time Rock and Roll”. (Oh yah! WOW! I just played it again – words shown below)

Then I would love to have them do my Clap Out at that time! As we leave the chapel I want them to Clap Long and Loud… and they can even give a cheer! Wahooo!

You ask, “How irreverent can some one be?! I mean after all – you ARE A MINISTER! You have attended and conducted hundreds and hundreds of funerals. You can’t do that at a funeral!”

Yep you are right. I can’t do that at any funeral… except mine. And please remember it is MY FUNERAL! Not yours. Yours will likely be sad. Mine won’t be! I have lived an amazing life and I am going out with a bang and a Clap Out!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

Old Time Rock and Roll - 
 – written by George Jackson and Thomas Earl Jones III (1977 Muscle Shoals Publishing Company)
Just take those old records off the shelf
I'II sit and listen to 'em by myself
Today's music aln 't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the
In ten minutes I'II be late for the door
I like that old time rock'n' roll

Still like that old time rock'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Won't go to hear them play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There's only sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll
Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
Today' music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll

Still like that old time rock'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll