John Lucas was a passionate musician and a prolific family man - 9 children, 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren. John was hard worker and a renowned collector of lots of "stuff" - he was an American Picker before it even had a name. Or a TV show. Clearly the most significant "stuff" John surrounded himself with was friends and family - and lots of it. His service was a crowded affair. It was standing room only at the Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home in East Bloomfield. His service was held in the kind of grand country place that must be preserved - it was a perfect spot for his gathering.
There was a connected feeling of friendship and calm and life in the air.
After the service, folks met at the United Church of Bristol for some down home cooking, reminiscing, chit chat and some heartfelt music making. John is at rest in the cemetery right there on the hilltop at the church - The Evergreen Cemetery.
At the evening's end, just before I stepped out of the church into the chilly, rainy country dark to head back home, the very tall Mark Weeg went eye to eye with little Lucas, John Lucas's great grandson. Mark said, "Now remember what I told you, Lucas. Pick a STRINGED instrument - anything with strings - nothin' you blow into". Lucas looked way, way up at Mark with third grade honest eyes. His white oxford shirt was untucked, his miniature black tie was askew from one hectic day. Lucas looked way, way, way up with a serious look and then he smiled. "Yep. I remember", he replied. And then off he skipped back into the church sanctuary - music was still being made in celebration of John Lucas, his great grandfather.
This is precisely how friends - and musicians - are made. It is exactly what John Lucas had in mind for all of us, all along.
