topic Re: Ali...... in Community Chat

Ali......

pitdakota — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:13:23 GMT

For those that are interested and those that posted about their fond memories of Muhammed Ali, I thought I would post my experience of attending the funeral procession this morning.

My husband (a Vietnam Vet) and I were along the street close to the funeral home as the procession started. The procession traveled around 25 miles (I think). It went by many different places in the city of Louisville that were significant to him and his life. The one place I can think of that it didn't pass was Churchill Downs. That is a memorable place in regard to Ali's life since he would go there and run the track to train for his boxing events. The procession did stop and pause by his childhood home.

There were literally thousands and thousands of people along the procession route. In our area there were many locals, but we also met people from St. Louis, Baltimore, Dallas, and Houston.

As the procession passed, people immediately started chanting "Ali". All of the family cars and other cars in the procession had their windows down thanking the people along the route. Several in our area called out to them to thank them for bringing him home. Will Smith was also in the procession. The procession really moved slowly to allow people to say goodbye.

After it passed us, we ran home and watched the rest of it on TV. It has been very moving. Anywhere along the route where there was a church, the church bells rang. Anchors of the local TV station were located at various parts along the route. It was very touching that those news people that have covered Ali for so long got choked up themselves as the procession would approach them. Several along the route would shadow box as the hearse passed.

Ali is now at the cemetery. The procession took so long they have moved the time of the memorial this afternoon back at least one hour. Tickets for the memorial service were gone in a flash when they opened the box office. In fact, they opened the box office 2 hours early because people had camped there overnight and there were already more people in line than they had tickets. The service is free, but one has to have a ticket to enter.

There are people here from all over the country and the world. They have interviewed people from England, Ireland, and Spain just to mention a few. A gentleman from Iraq that was here for the funeral was also interviewed. He met Ali when Ali was in Iraq and recalled the time when Ali handed out roses to children in Iraq. That story is a special story that many locals are familar with and one of the biggest reasons that people were placing roses on the hearse as the procession passed.

I am going to pick up my grandson in a few minutes and hopefully make it back in time to watch the memorial service, but thought I would share that story for those that are interested.

Re: Ali......

Noel7 — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:20:02 GMT

@pitdakota

Thank you, PD. I'm so glad you shared your experience. Very moving.

Re: Ali......

alliswell — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:25:34 GMT

Wow, thank you for posting this @pitdakota.

Re: Ali......

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:27:34 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it is inappropriate

Re: Ali......

pitdakota — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:27:36 GMT

@Noel7, @alliswell You are very welcome. It was really special to be there.

Re: Ali......

SoX — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:28:39 GMT

Thanks so much, Pitdakota, for a very visual description ... I missed this on TV; maybe some of it will be replayed later.

Re: Ali......

Mz iMac — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:41:50 GMT

@pitdakota

Re: Ali......

kdgn — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:16:11 GMT

Thank you for sharing, Pity-

Re: Ali......

JaneMarple — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:31:33 GMT

Thank you

(I'm watching the memorial service right now)

Re: Ali......

SeaMaiden — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:31:47 GMT

Ali...As with David Bowie and Prince...I find it interesting that no one spoke about them At all prior to their demise. No one spoke about them here on the chat boards before they died...they were not ever on the news for years. Almost forgotten. Then they pass and everybody speaks so highly of them...Yet.....not a nice comment prior to their death.

Seems such a shame that people have to die in order to be praised and talked about. I find that very sad.

Re: Ali......

Noel7 — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:55:46 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
Ali...As with David Bowie and Prince...I find it interesting that no one spoke about them At all prior to their demise. No one spoke about them here on the chat boards before they died...they were not ever on the news for years. Almost forgotten. Then they pass and everybody speaks so highly of them...Yet.....not a nice comment prior to their death.

Seems such a shame that people have to die in order to be praised and talked about. I find that very sad.

*********************************

@SeaMaiden

Who have you spoken about on this board recently?

Do you routinely use QVC to talk about all of the people you think deserve praise? On a shopping board, no less?

Re: Ali......

Noel7 — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:56:58 GMT

Pffffftttt.

How inappropriate.

Re: Ali......

SoX — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:21:34 GMT

@Noel7

Noel ... In contemplating how to respond to Seamaiden's post, I think that your reply is much softer and kinder than mine would have been.

I will add, however, that knowing the history of this board, any such attempt at praising a personal favorite public figure would morph into something that would obscure the intended reason for the thread.

Re: Ali......

Noel7 — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:24:19 GMT

@SoX wrote:
@Noel7

Noel ... In contemplating how to respond to Seamaiden's post, I think that your reply is much softer and kinder than mine would have been.

I will add, however, that knowing the history of this board, any such attempt at praising a oersonal favorite public figure would morph into something that would obscure the intended reason for the thread.

*************************

Hi @SoX

I agree with you. I will also add that none of those mentioned were "forgotten," especially Ali. He had been in the news quite often, especially for his good deeds saving others. Just because one person thinks others have been forgotten does not make it so.

Re: Ali......

alliswell — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:34:32 GMT

SoX wrote:

@Noel7

Noel ... In contemplating how to respond to Seamaiden's post, I think that your reply is much softer and kinder than mine would have been.

@SoX

Well said, SoX.

Although I've certainly have not been on these boards as long as you and Noel, it seems to be the way that does happen on some of them.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to the eulogies for Ali.

Re: Ali......

Elvita — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:44:15 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
Ali...As with David Bowie and Prince...I find it interesting that no one spoke about them At all prior to their demise. No one spoke about them here on the chat boards before they died...they were not ever on the news for years. Almost forgotten. Then they pass and everybody speaks so highly of them...Yet.....not a nice comment prior to their death.

Seems such a shame that people have to die in order to be praised and talked about. I find that very sad.

The flowers you are going to bring to my funeral
Bring them now, for I want to see them.
The kind words you have to say about me,
Say them now, for I want to hear them.

When I quit this mortal shore
And mosey 'round this earth no more,
Do not weep and do not sob;
I may have found a better job.
Don't go and buy a large bouquet
For which you'll find it hard to pay,
Don't mope around and feel all blue;
I may be better off than you.

Don't tell the folks I was a saint
Or any old thing that I ain't.
If you have jam like that to spread,
Please hand it out before I'm dead.
If you have roses bless your soul,
Just pin one in my buttonhole
While I'm alive and well today;
Don't wait until I'm gone away.

Re: Ali......

SoX — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:47:21 GMT

@Elvita ...

How beautiful ... and appropriate here.

Re: Ali......

AKgirl2 — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:50:43 GMT

I have a great memory of Muhammad Ali...1973, (Chicago) on my lunch hour walking to the bank, coming towards me were three people, Mr. Ali, his wife and body guard...Ali was dressed in a cream color coat with slacks and shoes to match, his wife had on a chinchilla maxi coat, body guard in black...Ali was carrying a briefcase with a visible chain handcuffed to his wrist. I was awestruck as they passed by and Ali gave me a nod and half smile...I thought wow, I just saw Muhammad Ali and what a handsome man, and what a great lunch hour, seeing Ali and cashing paycheck! Doubleheader!!

Re: Ali......

alliswell — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:53:03 GMT

@Elvita: How perfect! Is that written by Ali?

Re: Ali......

RoughDraft — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 22:06:31 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
Ali...As with David Bowie and Prince...I find it interesting that no one spoke about them At all prior to their demise. No one spoke about them here on the chat boards before they died...they were not ever on the news for years. Almost forgotten. Then they pass and everybody speaks so highly of them...Yet.....not a nice comment prior to their death.

Seems such a shame that people have to die in order to be praised and talked about. I find that very sad.

I have no way of knowing if Ali, David or Prince were discussed on this or other chat boards. I doubt that "chat board fame" was ever something that they aspired to. I do know that they contributed to the world through their art and deeds almost to the end of their lives and most certainly were celebrated by those who knew and loved them.

When they are lost to us, they leave an empty space in our lives, so all we can do is celebrate what they have done through remembrance.