Taylored Memorial Creations

  I need to confess. I carry post-it notes in my purse. I try to keep a pad handy for when the need arises, ever since I realized the power of post-its. It started years ago. A sister I often visit in another state, would get visibly sad when I prepared to leave. I knew she didn’t want me (and often my family) to leave. She would start asking me questions to sidetrack me with conversation, or she would start gathering things for me to take—like drinks, snacks, sometimes even a sandwich.             My sister told me once after I left, “I cried before you were even out of the driveway.”             It broke my heart to know how my departure had caused such sadness. One visit, knowing the dreaded goodbye was on the horizon, she left before us for a doctor’s appointment.             It made my “exit” so much easi...

Frank and Janet The whole thing with the plaid shirts started naturally a few days before the funeral from someone's idea to wear a plaid shirt at the funeral. The reason evolved from Ed VERY often sporting some kind of plaid, button-down shirt. I have no idea who thought of it. I wish I did. Someone called me and asked if they could borrow one of Ed’s shirts. When I asked why, they explained they needed one because some of the “Questers”, or people who were part of Quest Church, were wearing plaid shirts to the funeral. I don’t remember who it was, but they didn’t own a plaid shirt. I said it was fine. I thought about it before the person arrived. I had no use for those shirts other than memories of Ed wearing them at certain times. Some of the shirts he wore more than others, some he grew out of and could no longer wear. Personally, I liked the red ones and the green ones. I thought they looked especially good on him. Reflecting on it, I realized he DID own a huge number of...