I am in a real quandary: a state of not being able to decide what to do about a situation. I will be 72 soon. I am looking for a new activity to keep me entertained.

When I retired from teaching, I made a plan. And I’ve done it all, except stand up comedy. I am still mulling that over.

There’s been dance lessons ( examples – tap, ballet, line ), bridge, bunco, book club, church activities (examples – teaching circle lessons, bringing food while hosting guests at various events in the fellowship hall, singing in a women’s ensemble ) , art lessons ( examples – water color, charcoal, oil, drawing ), exercise classes ( examples – yoga, balance ), written columns in several newspapers and, of course, humor books ( one a best seller ), not to mention unorganized events through my neighborhood and community. I still do a few of these. But I am looking for something different.

And I think I found it. And it pays! My new adventure is being a PROFESSIONAL MOURNER!

According to Cheryl Johnson’s confession in Silver Magazine, “It might sound strange, but funerals are a wonderful day out,” she says. “You get to meet new people, dress up, and there’s usually some fantastic food. It’s very much like a wedding with a celebratory atmosphere after all the emotion. Everyone wants to remember and celebrate the dead person’s life and they just assume that I knew them too. It’s never awkward.”

Although Cheryl’s experience is one where she wasn’t paid and did it for her own satisfaction, professional mourners can average salary of $30 to $120 per funeral. Now on a fixed income, I’d like little cash towards my hair appointments, my nail appointments, and lunches out with friends.

If interested, you can become a professional mourner. They are paid to attend funeral services and express their grief on behalf of the deceased or their loved ones. This has been done for centuries in many places around the world.

And it’s simple, really. And since I like to talk to people, the job to publicly express grief at funerals, help others release their emotions, and honor the deceased’s importance in society works for me. Even if you don’t like talking, you can express grief through crying, wailing, and rituals, varying by culture. These mourners offer community and emotional support to grieving families, validating their feelings. I suggest learning a little bit about the deceased through obituaries and such in case someone asks YOU a question. Or you can just wail more and louder.

While funeral customs change, professional mourners remain vital in some societies, through personal expressions and support from loved ones have become more prominent. These mourners, playing a culturally specific role, contribute to the funeral experience with care and authenticity.

With my new interest, I feel like I am following Erma Bombeck’s mantra: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’ ”

Stay tuned for more jobs on my list.