Pictured from right to left, Cathy Barlow Garrison, Nancy Shearer, Jenny Cline, and Bill Hutzel (center) … Photo by Jack Shearer
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In memory of Cathy Barlow Garrison, who passed away on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.
Cathy always seemed to celebrate life. So it was fitting that the ceremony in her honor… was called a celebration
And yet— I was deeply saddened to see her go.
Even knowing she had gone to a better place.
It’s a perfect place
where there is no pain…
no suffering…
no disability…
no sickness.
It’s hard for me to fully comprehend such a place. Because I am still of this world, and I cannot yet see God clearly.
But it is described as something picturesque and glorious.
Grander than anything I’ve ever imagined.
Angels on white clouds… playing music… skateboarding down streets of gold—and other depictions from movies I had seen.
Joy was everywhere!
And I imagine Cathy there.
Playing in a glorious flute choir.
No more endless practice. No more striving for perfection.
Now, anything she picks up… she plays beautifully.
Effortlessly.
The church was standing room only.
Tears were everywhere.
But even then… Cathy reminded us to look on the bright side of life.
As we said our goodbyes the ceremony ended with a song:
“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
Go on” said the priest
Sing it, Sing it, everybody!
And as we sang along to a recording played through the church’s sound system, I thought that Cathy must have been laughing at our heartfelt attempt to sing the lyrics:
“Always look on the bright side of life, de-dum .. de-diddly-dum-de-dum.”
Cathy would have wanted that.
She would have wanted us to sing and rejoice.
But I couldn’t.
I couldn’t sing.
I couldn’t even whistle.
My lips were trembling.
I was just trying to hold it together.
That song…that was her choice.
Of course it was.
She had a marvelous and wonderfully zany sense of humor.
Even near the end of her life, she could still laugh.
When a Facebook glitch mistakenly changed people’s Facebook profiles to memorialized, Cathy joked about checking her page to make sure she wasn’t dead yet.
You have to laugh.
Her email handle was: “cheerfulflutist.”
And that’s exactly who she was.
Cheerful.
And, she inspired all of us to be the same.
The song in the background of this audio recording is entitled “Alleluia” by Ralph Manuel and performed by Flutatious! members Cathy Garrison, Jenny Cline, Nancy Shearer, Flora Pollack, Bill Hoff, and Bill Hutzel. This musical offering, offered in love and remembrance, was shared at Cathy’s Celebration of Life, with one cherished member absent.
The photograph was taken by Jack Shearer. Jack, thank you!
Copyright 2016 by Bill Hutzel
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It is most poignant that you do not describe Cathy’s accomplishments, degrees, honors, performing abilities etc. But you do so well describe her spirit – she must have been a pleasure to be around. Our legacies are our voices – lent to song, instrument, or conversation. We need each other. Let us voice the Light.
HI BILL,NICE POST,WHAT A BLESSING THE CHEERFUL-HEARTED PERSON IS IN LIFE TO EVERYONE,REMINDS ME OF BIBLE VERSES “A CHEERFUL OR MERRY HEART DO’ETH GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE,OR ‘BE OF GOOD CHEER SAID jESUS,LET US APPRECIATE THE FOLKS WHO HAVE JOY AND GOOD CHEER AND DO NOT FORGET TO CULTIVATE THESE VIRTUES IN LIFE OURSELF,SO WE MIGHT BE TO OTHERS WHAT CATHY WAS TO YOU, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION,DENNIS IN DUBLIN
Beautiful.
No doubt Cathy was a beautiful person.
And the writing properly honors her: beautiful writing. Thank you,
Dex
Thanks for sharing this Bill. sorry for your loss. God Bless.
On Wings of Song, Cathy! We may look to the stars to speak to those friends who have passed, but somehow, I think that you’lll be found in those beautiful light rays that pop through our dark gray clouds, and make us gasp for the loveliness of this beam from Heaven above! Glad you made it there safely. The sunshine tells me so!