A mortician's advice on how to live

We've had a rough couple years. I've been vocal about my disdain for people using their free time to argue about politics and science on Facebook, but allow me to bring something positive to the internet: a story about funerals.

I was in Austin recently to pick up a major award.

I realize now, in this publicity photo, I'm actually pointing the award backward. Let that be a lesson to young journalists: You don't get to be the best radio reporter in Texas by spending all your time makin' sure trophies face the right way.

Simultaneously, my brother, a Hollywood muckity-muck, was in Austin for a film festival. I went to one of his panels where I added "successful sitcom writer" to my list of can't miss jobs after AM radio.

You know what I hadn't considered, though? Mortician.

A couple Texas filmmakers had produced a documentary about a mortician from Galveston.

Dale Carter has worked in Galveston for 32 years. When he told his mom what he wanted to do when he grew up, he says she reacted like you might expect if she found out he was a drug addict. But he says he had been interested in working at a funeral home since he went to his great grandmother's funeral.

He even responded after the siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. It's tough hearing him describe what that was like, but he talks about it so people won't forget what happened. His description is graphic, though, if you'd prefer not to hear it.

What makes the documentary interesting is the cousins who produced it say they never set out to make a "how to" video about embalming. Aaron Weiss says their plan kept evolving as they got to know Carter.

Robert Weiss says the documentary became a project that focused on Carter's legacy, how he interacts with people and builds relationships.

The movie looks at Carter's life and obstacles he's faced. He's dealt with them and still has a positive outlook now. Since society was discontinued a couple years ago, he has a message we can all benefit from right now.

He sets out to create a positive memory for families regardless of the condition of the loved one when they come to him.

And even if it's not a how to video, Carter is nothing if not confident in his skills.

Song of the Cicada uses funerals to show us not to give up, whether it's making someone look good for their family or turning sentence diagrams into art, and to keep pushing forward. It won Best Documentary Feature at the Austin Film Festival. If you'd like to learn more about the lighter side of embalming, it's playing in Fort Worth this weekend.