[mark]

I just returned from attending a funeral for someone I went to summer camp with a long time ago (30 years). While I was friends with him in camp (we were in the same unit and therefore, were in the same social group), I can't say we were "friends." Nor did we maintain a relationship once we both stopped going to the camp. However, it was sad nonetheless.

I've been to funerals, but they've been for older relatives, or the older relatives of my friends. This was the first time it was someone I had actually been friends with and who was my age.

As person after person stood and spoke about my friend, it was clear that he was a great father, husband, friend and colleague. I find it to be a bitter irony that you don't get to hear all of the nice things people say about you during a funeral.

This made me (as it probably made everyone else at the funeral) think about my own life and how I would want to be remembered. I think I would like to be remembered as a good father, husband and friend. Someone who always tried to make people laugh and treated other people with respect.

How would YOU like to be remembered?