Matters of Life and Death
This weeks gallery of memorial tattoos.
A white tattoo is new to me and I like the subtle look.
The ancient infinity symbol is timeless and will never need an update.
Feathers and flight, what’s not to like?
See the complete collection of memorial tattoos on Urn Garden pinterest board.
Wooden cremation urns are a popular choice for families that plan to keep the ashes at home for a while before making a decision on the final resting place. The warm burnished glow of the wood blends in with the home decor.
Wood comes in so many decorative styles to choose from, with finishes ranging from hand rubbed mahogany, dark walnut, and cherry to lighter oaks and pine, and we carry many styles that are made by American craftsman.
Mahogany wood urns have a rich red tone. This locking memorial box has gentle curves and high gloss finish. The burl wood lid opens to reveal not only storage for the ashes, but a lift out tray to store special mementos like jewelry, notes, or pictures. 
Several of the memorial chest styles are ideal if you have never transferred the ashes from the plastic box you received at the funeral home or crematorium. Don’t feel bad about this, it’s not uncommon for families to realize they’ve been storing a box of ashes in the closet for years and are finally strong enough to give their loved one a proper resting place.
This actually happened to a friend of our family. Their brother died suddenly and when they went to California to clean out his place, they discovered his partner’s ashes in the closet. They had been in there for 10 years.
The boxes are secure and sized to accommodate the plastic container, you will not disturb the cremains and can simply place the box inside the urn, lock it and have peace.
This style of urn looks nice if you choose to keep it in the home, as the natural beauty of the wood will blend into most home decor.
If you plan to transport ashes to another location and have to pass through airport security. Wood is a good choice because it will pass the TSA screening.
See all the styles of wooden cremation urns at Urn Garden.
Invitations were emailed for the reopening of the Century Aurora 16 theater January 17 that will be a “special evening of remembrance”. The families of the 12 murder victims and 58 others injured were less than enthusiastic about the personal invite. Aurora mayor Steve Hogan says it’s part of the community’s healing process..
Sandy Phillips lost her 24 year old daughter in the shooting, and was insulted by the gesture. “None of us received a letter of condolence or any other communication from Cinemark, but now they want us to step foot in that theater,” Phillips said in an interview. “It’s like people going back to a slaughterhouse, as far as I am concerned.”
Read more: Victims’ families of Aurora theater shooting protest remembrance event – The Denver Post
Over the Christmas break we were discussing the holiday show Christmas at the White House. It was fun to see the finery and traditions over the years. But December 1963 was different, the White House was dark. After the JFK assassination President Johnson declared a month long period of mourning and the White House was shrouded in black with crepe draping the door ways and chandeliers.
On the morning of December 22, the black crepe was removed and replaced by holly, wreaths, and mistletoe. Later that evening, the Christmas tree was lit. Lady Bird Johnson later wrote, “I walked the well-lit hall for the first time with the sense that life was going to go on, that we as a country were going to begin again.”
The young man that I was talking to thought a month long period of mourning was an old-school custom and would not be done today. A month? Too long. Our attention span, he said. He was speaking for the 20-25 year old young professionals that he knew.
Most people prefer the light over the dark, especially in December. And I agree that we’ve moved past the Victorian custom of draping every mirror in the house. Now, it seems that black wreaths and bunting are used for Halloween decorations. Is the idea of hanging a black wreath on the door or some hanging black ribbons out of the question when a death has occurred? Inspiration comes from the from the black feather wreaths I’ve seen. The symbolism is subtle, tactile, and the black is dramatic. It never goes out of style.
