So I was late to the funeral and ...
Went to sleep really late Friday morning, woke up Saturday morning much later than I normally do, went into the Queen Victoria Markets, had breakfast at Piazza Vittoria (vegie bomb, was good), a little wine shopping (Swords™), a little bookshopping ( Of Science & Swords and Minotaur) and by the time I got home, I was running late for Aveline's funeral at Fawkner Crematorium.
No doubt because I was ambivalent about going, as I often am about things likely to be emotionally charged. When I got there, there was no-one at the designated chapel (Cordell), but a nice attendant took me through to the chapel (George) the funeral had moved to because the computer had seized. Slipped in behind ozgenre and Wulfsigge in time for the music just before Antti's eulogy about Aveline's time in Canberra, which was funny and very recognisably Aveline. Then sly_girl gave the eulogy about Aveline's time in Melbourne, which was also funny and very recognisably Aveline. I was so glad her cleavage got mentioned. (As, from the reaction, was her audience.) Aveline's nephew's provided music for a live rendition of Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's Door. Then kitling (accompanied by bunnikins) gave a very personal eulogy. The last eulogy was given by Grant/Master Vlad, who was very funny (such as hating pink) and, like all the eulogies, very recognisably invoked Aveline. There is to be a commemorative website. I hope all the eulogies get put up there. I quickly regretted being late.
The computer presentation on the overhead screens of pictures and quotes was great. I particularly liked my only domestic quality is I live in a house. The Rev. Tim Costello closed proceedings, saying he had gone to hundreds of funerals but this was the most memorable, which is a big statement and I am sure completely true. During the commitment, lots of folk danced in the aisles to Master and Servant.
We slowly spilled out onto the steps and surrounding garden. There were well over a hundred people there-it was good to see spiked and coloured hair present in significant amounts. I caught up with various people. Such as Flipper, who I am delighted to report is managing a Community Radio station in Canberra. A job Aveline had prodded him into applying to and, when he got it, had introduced around to people, giving him an intro to friendship networks that are very important to having a decent time in Canberra.
I only got slightly teary during the funeral, though I laughed lots. I have done most of my sobbing writing my posts and going through the links. Like now.
There were people there from Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, the Blue Mountains. It was good to see members of her SCA household, Domini Luni, were in evidence, with the knotwork Moon crescent taken from one of Aveline’s tattoos hanging on their chests. I was thanked for my Aveline posts, particularly by gypsyamber, which was very sweet. kriian made a very apposite comment. She said that she had been to funeral about (I can't precisely remember the phrase) but distinctive people which had sanitised them and she was so glad that Aveline's funeral was not like that. The very good thing about Aveline's funeral was that it was so much about the real Aveline, the incredibly rich fullness of her life, which is to the organisers (particularly kitling and Grant/Master Vlad[-with nikkicat13 acting as their PA-] and Aveline herself, who had explained what she wanted) and other participants great credit.
I gave Simon and Louise a lift to the celebration at Insignia (formerly Megabar). Will post about that later.
No doubt because I was ambivalent about going, as I often am about things likely to be emotionally charged. When I got there, there was no-one at the designated chapel (Cordell), but a nice attendant took me through to the chapel (George) the funeral had moved to because the computer had seized. Slipped in behind ozgenre and Wulfsigge in time for the music just before Antti's eulogy about Aveline's time in Canberra, which was funny and very recognisably Aveline. Then sly_girl gave the eulogy about Aveline's time in Melbourne, which was also funny and very recognisably Aveline. I was so glad her cleavage got mentioned. (As, from the reaction, was her audience.) Aveline's nephew's provided music for a live rendition of Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's Door. Then kitling (accompanied by bunnikins) gave a very personal eulogy. The last eulogy was given by Grant/Master Vlad, who was very funny (such as hating pink) and, like all the eulogies, very recognisably invoked Aveline. There is to be a commemorative website. I hope all the eulogies get put up there. I quickly regretted being late.
The computer presentation on the overhead screens of pictures and quotes was great. I particularly liked my only domestic quality is I live in a house. The Rev. Tim Costello closed proceedings, saying he had gone to hundreds of funerals but this was the most memorable, which is a big statement and I am sure completely true. During the commitment, lots of folk danced in the aisles to Master and Servant.
We slowly spilled out onto the steps and surrounding garden. There were well over a hundred people there-it was good to see spiked and coloured hair present in significant amounts. I caught up with various people. Such as Flipper, who I am delighted to report is managing a Community Radio station in Canberra. A job Aveline had prodded him into applying to and, when he got it, had introduced around to people, giving him an intro to friendship networks that are very important to having a decent time in Canberra.
I only got slightly teary during the funeral, though I laughed lots. I have done most of my sobbing writing my posts and going through the links. Like now.
There were people there from Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, the Blue Mountains. It was good to see members of her SCA household, Domini Luni, were in evidence, with the knotwork Moon crescent taken from one of Aveline’s tattoos hanging on their chests. I was thanked for my Aveline posts, particularly by gypsyamber, which was very sweet. kriian made a very apposite comment. She said that she had been to funeral about (I can't precisely remember the phrase) but distinctive people which had sanitised them and she was so glad that Aveline's funeral was not like that. The very good thing about Aveline's funeral was that it was so much about the real Aveline, the incredibly rich fullness of her life, which is to the organisers (particularly kitling and Grant/Master Vlad[-with nikkicat13 acting as their PA-] and Aveline herself, who had explained what she wanted) and other participants great credit.
I gave Simon and Louise a lift to the celebration at Insignia (formerly Megabar). Will post about that later.