Should I Attend My Father In-laws Funeral, Or Go Boating?
Sadly, my wife’s father has died at a rather inconvenient time. I say this because in early May, some chums from teh Raffles Club and I like to go on a boating expedition for a couple of weeks. We have a rip-roariously good time with gin, pork and ludicrous wagers.
Now this damned funeral. Would I be wrong in not attending? I want to go and have merriment on a boat, not sit there pretending to be mournful, for pity’s sake. How can I get out of it?
December 7th, 2009 at 3:05 am
You need to persuade the mother in law that you have secret knowledge of his Viking credentials and that the old fella confided in you that he felt that the only proper funeral was a traditional Viking boat burial. This way you get to go boating with the added benefit of being able to watch the old duffer go smoking down the river like a barbecued Poo stick.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Does the funeral include “rip-roariously good time with gin, pork and ludicrous wagers”?
I thought not.
Go boating.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Well, how good is your marriage?
If you don’t mind sleeping on the couch, go for the boat.
If you care about your wife and her family, do the funeral.
Best bet: figure a way to either do the funeral and then go on the boat, or go boating and come back for the funeral.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:47 am
.what a selfish person you sound this is your wife’s father she must be devastated if you cant support her at this time well in my book i hope your boat sinks.Go if you love her she will need you i lost my dad last june and believe me it s like your world falling apart you can catch up with your pals the next day
December 7th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Depends on how you got in with him and how the family view it.
I won’t shed a tear when my father-in-law pegs it as he’s a complete waste of organs. I therefore will not go to the funeral unless my wife specifically requests – although I doubt she’ll shed that many tears either.
Talk with your wife, but for me, I’d go boating.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:00 am
If one needs to ask and state what you’ve stated then it appears your mind is made up. Sadly though I honestly don’t know who to feel sorrier for…you or your wife and her family. I’d like to say that maybe your friends who are like you deserve you while your wife doesn’t but that might be a little too harsh for here.
Maybe you should go so that it’ll give your wife ample opportunity to move all your things to the curb before you get home.
Seriously though it sounds like it’s time for you to grow up and accept the responsibility of being a husband and friend to your wife.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Typical of your father-in-law to choose just this time to pop off. I don’t quite see how you can get out of the funeral without attendant shouts and murmers from your family and Society. Perhaps you could meet the Raffles club boaters at some point of the trip. Offer to bring more pork. And some cheesecake too…wink, wink, nudge, nude.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:01 am
This one is much easier than you might imagine. How often did you see the old man while he was alive?? Exactly as I thought – almost never….he couldn’t stand the sight of you which pleased you immensely. Remind your wife how upset her father became whenever you did manage to appear at his home. Does she really want him to be that upset at his own funeral?? Of course not! Then you should be as far away as possible…. out on the boat should do just fine! Have fun!
BTW- By the time your wife figures out how ridiculous this argument is, you should be long gone… so hurry now!
December 7th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Well firstly do you really want to hurt your wife so much that she’ll be worrying about divorce as well as mourning the loss of her father?
Secondly, are you really such a sleaze?
Does your gratification come before anything?
I generally go around believing people like you don’t exist. Life’s better that way.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Did you like the old guy? Then show up and say goodbye properly. Next time you’re at sea, pour a glass for him into the sea, and ask Poseidon to keep him well.
If you didn’t like him, show up so as to be a proper human being of a better quality than you thought he was.
Either way, show up.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Combine the two – give Daddy-in-law a Viking funeral. You and your chums can tag along, shoot a few flaming arrows at him for good measure, then tootle off up the jolly old river in the opposite direction.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Once again Marmalade you don’t think laterally.
simply we could combine the two, with a burial at sea….. though the river could do just as well….
“three men ( one who is dead ) and a boat …… I could bring my hound too if you want ?
December 7th, 2009 at 9:39 am
The funeral only happens once.
You can go boating any time.
What do you think people would think if they had to say, “Sorry, he is away boating”
Go to the funeral.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Yes respect your family, even though they are not related to you. and then you can go boating tomorrow or after the funeral.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:46 am
As an ex live aboard narrow boater who loved the canals and quiet spots I would recommend you go boating,,you will find ample time to ponder upon your memories as gulp down copious amounts of claret old boy,,
December 7th, 2009 at 11:13 am
You can’t.
Suck it up and actually be available for your family when they need you.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Am I correct sir in assuming that you might not have an invitation for the funeral?
If so then it would be most discourteous to arrive uninvited.
Toodle Pip
.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
why not charter a bigger boat and have the funeral onboard the boat , you’ld be killing 2 birds with 1 stone . and why not go even further and bury the old guy at sea ?
December 7th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
you should go you can always go boating after
December 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
WHat about a funeral on the water? It will be very modern, take the casket on your boat and fish.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Father in law you should at least make an appearance, then go boating. Now if it was your mother in law I’d say skip it but sadly its not.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
ok you are starting to get on my nerves…a family memebr is dead and all ur thinking about is boating…you need to start getting your priorties straight…u really are something
December 7th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Are you stupid? thats not a hard answer…. obviously you go pay your respects you don’t go boating when someone dies… only a real moron would do something like that
December 7th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Take your laptop and a live cam with ya and act sober.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Sorry, but you should be there for your wife, she needs you. Maybe take your trip at some other time?
December 7th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Say you don’t like funerals and that you will make a toast to him on the boat
December 7th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Just tell her life’s too short to miss out on an opportunity to have fun.She should understand.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
oh nohe,s here again
go boating and tie the anchor to yourself and lowp over the side
ps. take your computer with you
December 7th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
pay your respect and then go boating.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Go to the funeral you cad !
December 7th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
just tell your wife, “sorry, i can’t attend because i’m a heartless jerk”…i’m sure she won’t be surprised…