Earlier today, I attended the memorial visitation services for my friend, Rob Conn.
Attended "A Celebration of Life" for Rob Conn earlier today. Very moving. Saw some pictures of him from both younger and older years which I had never seen before. It was in Tom's River, which is far from most of his friends from the Bergen days, like me. That was about an hour and a half journey from me. But I fully intended to be there. In the end, I was there, and grateful for that much.
Had been years since I had last visited Tom's River or that general region of Jersey. On the admittedly long drive down, James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" came on, and it felt very moving under the circumstances. Even the toned down Star Wars music, along with other music, felt far more moving than I ever remember hearing it before.
This offered me one last opportunity to honor our mutual friendship by wearing the Egyptian scarab which he gave me as a token of our permanent friendship many years ago. Also, to honor him in my own way one last time.
Not surprisingly, it was quite moving. Looking at all of the pictures and other things, as well as family members (many of whom bore quite a resemblance) made me feel sad. Made me miss him that much more.
For a while, I sat next to Rob's father. We had met many years ago, although it was no surprise that he had no memory of that. We talked a bit, however. I offered my condolences. He spoke about how fast Rob's health declined, and how that deterioration seemed to take everyone by surprise.
Also, I got a chance to talk to his two sisters and his brother, as well as some other family members. There was a sort of sermon by Rob's old childhood priest right at the end, and even that was both engaging and quite moving.
He spoke about being at a party in Hollywood, and literally bumping into Stephen Spielberg. Spielberg asked him if he understood the religious connotations of Star Wars and E.T. in particular. Star Wars was a bit more obvious (such as with the virgin birth), although admittedly, E.T. was a different story. But Spielberg explained to him that it was a story about a visitor from the sky, from the Heavens, who came down to Earth and preached love to all, then suffered terribly. He dies, then is resurrected and in the end, he returns home. The priest explained that to his view, home is Heaven. That when someone departs this Earth, he returns home.
The priest also read from Matthew, Book 5:16:
14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Now admittedly, I am not a very religious person, although I appreciated this for this occasion. There were other passages from less religious sources. Such as the poem by Robert Frost about taking the path less chosen, and that this has made all the difference. That seemed fitting to remember Rob by.
Also, there was this beautiful passage from Shakespeare:
“And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. I would not change it.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It
Here was another passage by another great English literary giant:
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson
All quite moving. Indeed, it seemed a fitting tribute to honor the memory of Rob Conn.
Of course, I took some pictures of the pictures, as well as of the memorial to him in the front of the room. Below are those pictures, which seemed worth sharing here.
Enjoy.
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