Unique Memorial Gifts

Memorial Gardens Are Divine
By Earl Erickson

It all started out as a birthday gift for my wife, Bobbie. I bought her a real-size, painted, concrete bear. It looked so real. She loved it. Then I placed it in a circle and added a wooden, miniature windmill next to it. Then it looked so cool, we decided to plant roses around it. And last, but not least, I painted a big rock that was already there, and painted the words Bobbie’s Mountain, in black lettering. I painted the background of the rock sky blue, and drew a picture of Mt. Rainier, in white. Afterwards, we named our property, Bobbie’s Mountain.

After Bobbie passed away in 2001, from cancer, I made this spot a memorial garden. It was later moved to a temporary location, because it obstructed a path to my new driveway. Then when I moved in to my new home next door, I relocated everything over to my new front yard, minus the windmill, it decayed from rot, so I discarded it.

The thing I like the most about a memorial garden at home, is that it’s always right there at your fingertips. No traveling to a cemetery all the time. This idea is especially nice if you live in the south Puget Sound area, and your family cemetery is in Gig Harbor, Washington, where there is a new $800 million toll bridge being built and the traffic is your worst nightmare.

However, having a memorial garden of your own shouldn’t substitute a trip to the cemetery on important holidays. A personal memorial garden should be a private place to pray and think about your loved ones daily. It’s not practical to visit a cemetery daily, unless you live close by. Even so, having it in your own yard is very special.

I think every person in this world should have a memorial garden in their yard or a simple arrangement in their home. Are there any reasons why you should not? Maybe one. If it keeps you from going to the cemetery when you should. A cemetery visit three times per year isn’t going to kill you. I visit my wife, my mom and dad, my grandparents, my brothers and my aunt and uncles at the cemetery every Easter, Memorial Day and Christmas. That's the way I was raised. I understand some aren’t able to, but if it’s laziness--that’s no excuse.

A loving tribute to a spouse, relative, friend or a pet can easily be set up in the home. It doesn’t have to be a shrine. A simple plant surrounded by some photographs or mementos may be just fine. I think every person or pet deserves to be honored one way or another. It’s a celebration of life.