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Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Felipe on April 29, 2023, 2:57 pm Enjoy your life It will be all right Forever love Out the window of my simple home I hear the sounds of a loud, happy brass band. Hundreds of people are walking down our dusty road, on the edge of the continent, between a crocodile reserve and the bright blue ocean. I knew what was going on. It was Gustavo‘s funeral procession. I could see dozens of faces I knew. They walked solemnly, dressed in their normal clothing, T-shirts and shorts, work clothes, and halter tops. The music was joyful, their faces were plain, sad or grim. Instinctively I knew to join them. Without thinking about it I threw on my nearest shirt and some flip-flops to walk into the courtyard. This is our community mourning Gustavo. I walked into the back of the pack, just in front of the motorcycles and cars trailing the mourners. Hands folded I shuffled behind the brass band, loudly playing music that has likely been played before, at many a funeral. A few people sung the words aloud. In front of me I noticed someone’s backpack that said in English: Enjoy your life Together we followed the hearse to the cemetery just a hundred meters away. I stood on the far edge of the cemetery next to the yellow and white taxis. Gustavo worked as a taxi driver. All the people stood around the other gravesites in a large circle. Some gravesites had little houses with steep-pitched roofs. Others were merely thick concrete slabs. A few were simple makeshift crosses. Once again I was on the edge of life and death. A little boy walked by wearing a T-shirt that said in English: It will be all right Then the casket came out, a big heavy, beautiful wooden casket, with only four men struggling to carry him to his final resting place. The pallbearers dodged the parked motorcycles avoiding something dead in the sand that an adorable dog rolled in. I stood quietly, arms folded like the taxi drivers, peacefully watching it all… remembering Gustavo and praying for his immortal soul. Perhaps the only gringo there. After they lowered him into the ground the taxi drivers all came to their taxis. All at once they honked their horns in unison. A loud, long taxi wail mourning one of their own. We stood patiently as men carried five-gallon bucket fulls of concrete to seal the crypt for well loved Gustavo. He was our Delegado for two terms before he became a taxi driver. The band struck up another happy song. I stood there in my ragged beach clothes. A woman walked by wearing a T-shirt that simply said, in English: Forever love The wind picked up, the sun was about to set. I felt it was time to disappear, slip away from the assembled group to write these words. I walked the hundred meters back towards my home on the windswept Playa, slowly and solemnly, while thanking Gustavo for the clear messages received, and praying for those souls in the cemetery. Rest in peace. I kept repeating those clear signs to myself, over and over, so as to deeply remember the only three written messages I saw, magically all in English: Enjoy your life It will be all right Forever love

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Tanny on April 29, 2023, 3:12 pm, in reply to "Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Well done, my friend. Your words echoed in my heart. Thank you. Tanny

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Lynne on April 29, 2023, 4:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" What a lovely story, which I wish I had written myself. My connections to Gustavo were many. He was my "designated" taxi driver when I made many trips back and forth from San Miguel to move to La Manzanilla after my husband's death. Then I learned that Rita Guzman, my Spanish "conversation coach," had raised him. When Gustavo served as delegado the second time, he helped me win a court case and stop the neighborhood's animal poisoner. As the town's authorized "mail pickup person," he personally delivered my U.S. mail. We chatted in the Jardin the day before he died. I will really, truly miss this wonderful man. What a fitting send-off from the many lives he touched!

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Dhyana on April 29, 2023, 4:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Does anyone have a photo of Gustavo to post?

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by PennyM on April 29, 2023, 4:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Beautifully said - gracias Felipe

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Jo Anna H on April 29, 2023, 5:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" The messages, Felipe, touched me, as did your observances. Just last Sunday, Gustavo drove my friend and me to ZLO; he was, as usual, deeply courteous and tremendously helpful. I am saddened by his death and join the community in mourning him.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by david dagoli on April 30, 2023, 9:58 am, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" A photo of Gustavo - not mine…

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Dhyana on May 1, 2023, 9:26 am, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Thanks for the photo and the touching story. Yes, now I know who he was and add my sadness and joy of knowing him.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Jenny on May 4, 2023, 11:12 am, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Thx Felipe, beautifully captured. Gustavo was a kind and jovial man. A big loss for our community.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Felipe on April 30, 2023, 11:29 am, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Thank you Tammy and Penny for your kind words. So glad it touched you. It was truly a magical time, happy I could capture it in words.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Jeanne C on April 30, 2023, 6:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" A beautiful capture of the moment. I'm so glad I took the time to read it.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Ike Levy on April 30, 2023, 1:39 pm, in reply to "Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Lovely story. You took me along. You’ve done it again. Thank you Felipe. Gustavo is missed.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Beccistarr on April 30, 2023, 6:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Thank you.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Daniel H on April 30, 2023, 8:00 pm, in reply to "Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Thanks for sharing. Good for you, and us

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Renee on May 1, 2023, 1:11 pm, in reply to "Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" That was really beautiful. Just enough to create an insightful picture of the whole special event. Gracias

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Aries on May 2, 2023, 4:08 am, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" I'm glad you put it into words, Felipe. Your way, your style, your observation. I, too, stood at the edge of the cemetary with my dogs, moved to tears by the simplicity of it all.

Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story Posted by Mary Burns on May 2, 2023, 6:31 am, in reply to "Re: Gustavo’s funeral procession – – a short story" Gracias, Felipe.

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