Southern living has always been defined by its various traditions. Some traditions, as we’ve seen with the Confederate Flag, are better off forgotten. Others are a part of daily life in the South so engrained in our way of thinking that we often don’t realize what we are being a part of. Traditions like chicken stews and fish fries that bring the community together. Traditions like chocolate gravy that represent everything good in life in one meal (to me, anyway). As wonderful as all of these things are, they aren’t my favorite southern tradition.
Last week, I was on my way home from a long shift at my waitressing job. I was tired and gross. I had already rid myself of my waitressing shoes and was ready to be out of my grease-stained clothes, as well. I was in a steady line of after-work flow on a major highway when suddenly a police car approached with its lights on heading in the opposite direction. Traffic, of course, slowed, but then the car behind the policeman became visible and everyone pulled over. A line of about twenty cars, myself included, pulled to the side of the road to let a funeral procession pass by.
I had done it several times before, but this time, I really thought about what we were doing. There is no law that says you have to pull over for a funeral. We had all just gotten off work, we were tired and ready to be home, but we stopped. Why? I can’t speak for the other drivers, but as I watched those cars go by, I realized why I always stopped.
I’ve been very fortunate in my life to only have to be a part of a few of those funeral processions, but I can’t explain how it made me feel to see those cars lined up on the side of the road, letting us pass. For me, and I assume for everyone else as well, when I lose someone I love, time seems to slow down. It's as if the days begin to drag by, seconds no longer exist - only hours. Seeing strangers take time from their day to stop and let you pass, it’s as if they’re recognizing that time has stopped for you. They’ve all lost people, they know what it’s like to be in that line of cars, and they’re pausing in their day to pay respect to you. It’s a way of telling strangers, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Seeing those people stopped, it gives hope that you will get through this loss and you will find yourself on the outside looking in again. When you do find yourself on the outside, you have an opportunity to tell those strangers that you understand. It’s a way of passing on the support that others have given you. Always stop for funeral processions because one day others will stop for you.
