Funeral

Gary died.

You know. Gary. Jack's snail?

Jack woke up and ran to my neighbor asking if snails floated when they died...
A few minutes later, we all decided to bury him.
He was a good snail...for, like, the six weeks that we had him...

We have funerals for our pets, but usually, they are not something I would photo. Usually there are abundant tears and copious amounts of snot. This, however, was Gary, the snail.

There was the typical Price-gravesite cross, made out of sticks. But Gary's grave held two tiny twigs held together with a blade of grass.

There was a cinder block with some red scribbling. After a little more observation, I discovered that on the rock, there was the simple phrase, 'Bye-bye Gary'.

We all signed it. I think I wrote 'meow', in tribute to Gary, the snail on Spongebob.

Jack brought out his Bible and picked out two stories that he wanted read over the gravesite. The first was the creation story. Whenever God created something, he said, 'You're good.' I like this Bible.

After the creation story, I was to read the crucifixion. I'm not sure why Jack chose this passage, but I think it had something to do with being sad. Or something.

So I read it. Strangely enough, it was sad. The funeral for a snail was sad. Not because it was a dear pet, but because of the older brothers surrounding their younger brother. Jonah helping Jack make the cross, Gable signing the tombstone. The common love of animals, of each other.

There were no tears shed, but it was touching nonetheless.

Until I zeroed in on Jesus.

What do you notice about this picture?

I, for one, could not help but snicker (just a tad) at Jesus armpit hairs. See them?

I don't know why it was funny then, nor why it is comical now. Jesus with armpit hairs.

I don't know why Jesus wouldn't have armpit hairs.

But somehow, seeing him with those scratchy, scraggly ones...

Was just a bit odd.