So after the web logger meetup, as though I hadn’t already had enough, I decided to stop by my local for one last drink, and much to my surprise, EVERYONE I know in the city was out. Seriously, over twenty close friends and former coworkers were gathered around the bar. I don’t think I’ve ever seen all these people out on the same night. After running around shaking hands and kissing cheeks, I asked what everyone was doing out. Sadly, I found out that a man with whom I used to work, an incredibly kind man with a wife and two young children, had just died of cancer. What I had walked into was an Irish style wake.

For those of you who have never been to an Irish wake, the experience is remarkably unsolemn. Basically, it’s a huge party in honor of the recently deceased. My grandmother’s wake was one of the best parties I’ve ever gone to. A friend of mine, who lost his mother suddenly when he was in high school once told me that her wake too was a huge blowout. Another friend of mine, upon his grandmother’s demise, found cases and cases of beer under her deathbed. The woman had actually catered her own wake.

It would be wrong for me to pretend that this man was a close friend of mine. To me he was just a really nice and friendly coworker who’s company I once enjoyed. I feel terrible for his wife and kids, but I’m glad I was able throw back a couple of boiler makers in his honor.

click images to enlarge:

Update:

As it turns out, everyone had gathered because a friend whom I have never met was visiting town after seven years on the west coast. The funeral is in a couple of days, but the party had nothing to do with him; it just happened to be what everyone was talking about.

Also, the woman who was visiting was very hot, had tattoos of stars on both of her butt cheeks and towards the end of the night was dropping her drawers to show everyone. I, of course, was completely unaware of this and missed the show. *sigh*