I know this sounds gruesome but some of my fondest memories of my early childhood has to do with funerals. The first I recall was in early 40's and they laid the body out at their home. My grandmother helped prepare the body. We lived in area of Wilson Co. close to Cook's Methodist Church off Lebanon Rd. and my first school was called Cook's School. >From that year on I was to go to several of these home funerals. Some were for financial reasons, but most were because people wanted to be "laid out" at home. Both of my husband's grandparents, as late as the 60's, wanted to be at home. This was a time of fellowship and reunion. Other than grieving the loss of the departed one, it was an enjoyable time. People came from near and far, and sometimes the only meeting with relatives was at deaths. They lasted for days for some. I don't much care for the rush, rush commercialized funerals of today. I have requested a regular funeral for myself, not a night one and I want my loved ones to sit up all night in funeral home with me on the day before my burial. I want them to reflect and bond. Thanks for reading this, just reflecting abit myself.(grin) God speed...