-
“Don’t Fear Death”
Alexander Alexandrovich Blok shares his own take on the silver lining that comes with death in his poem “Don’t Fear Death”If you’ve ever experienced the grief of having lost a loved one after weeks, months or even years of suffering, chances are that you are no stranger to the commonly spoken phrase “at least they are no longer suffering.” While many would agree that these words are true, the underlying idea of this message—that a…
/
-
Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates the most beautiful hearts in an ongoing celebration of loveLovely Hot Summer Days It’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death. The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” The…
/
-
Before It’s “Too Late”: Seniors Share Fears Before Death
The fears and regrets of the dying expressed through an honest photo series by Steve RosenfieldSteve Rosenfield is the brains behind the “What I Be” project, which is known for highlighting teens as an exploration of human identity and expression. “It’s a way to tell your story the way you want it to be told,” reads the site’s mission statement, “Oftentimes people make up stories about our lives by what…
/
-
Malaysia Airlines: Remembering the Flight MH17 Victims
How can we tackle the grief of a second Malyasia Airlines crash? A New York Times article suggests we get to know the flight’s passengersIn the wake of a tragedy like Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, the public’s reaction wavers between points of grief and denial, depression and anger, and endless other frustrating couplets on the grieving spectrum. It was pretty horrific to read the names of the inspiring individuals who were lost on that flight: a beloved senator, many…
/
-
Memorial Idea for Ashes: Flower Heart
Scatter the ashes of your loved one beside a heart shaped floral arrangement3 Tips for Your Own Floral Heart Ceremony: It’s not uncommon to scatter or bury cremation ashes under a favorite tree. Instead of tossing a few flower stems, SevenPonds suggests a memorial idea of placing a heart shaped floral arrangement at the beloved scattering location. Like a big kiss or hug, this beautiful rethink of…
/
-
Who Takes Care of Us When We Live Longer and Die Slower? (Interview)
Sociologist Karla Erickson talks about what it means to care for an aging population that lives longer than ever – and dies slower than everToday, SevenPonds speaks with Karla Erickson, Associate Professor of Sociology at Grinnell College in Iowa. With a PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota, Karla has written a book on class, community and gendered labor titled The Hungry Cowboy: Service and Community in a Neighborhood Restaurant, and her work has been published in Symbolic Interaction, Space and Culture, Qualitative Sociology, Restaurants:…
/
-
“Beaches“
Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey star in a film about the arch of a friendship through love, jealously and illnessBeaches is Garry Marshall’s 1988 adaptation of Iris Rainer Dart’s novel of the tumultuous but unbreakable friendship between C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey). While the film has its flaws, Beaches is an important part of the Marshall’s 80s-oeuvre for one reason: it’s concerned with the friendship between two women. In an…
/
-
The History Behind Firing Guns at Military Funerals
An exploration of the history behind firing guns and cannons to honor service members, veterans and diplomats at military funeralsEven for those who have never personally attended a military funeral, most Americans are familiar with the traditional customs that are practiced during the ceremony. The image of booming shots echoing in the calm of a grave site after a particularly action-packed battle scene are saturated in all forms of American media. As a country,…
/
-
Hospitals on the Verge of Paying Massive Fines from Medicare for Their Mistakes
Medicare is moving in the right direction with a plan to give big fines to hospitals with the highest rates of potentially fatal infections and avoidable injuriesAlthough the amount of potentially fatal infections and avoidable injuries that happen in hospitals is slowly decreasing, Medicare will soon be charging massive fines to around 750 hospitals with the highest rates of both. The estimated total for these fines will be about $330 million for just one year. The decrease in infections has not…
/
Want an Easier Way to Plan a Memorial Event? Get our FREE guide
“7 Ways to Create an Amazing Celebration of Life”
