When we have waited for the inevitable, and persevered through the final moments. Then what? We seek closure and go on with our lives. That feels so shallow. There are sometimes others who did not take, or have the time, to spend with the departed in the last phase of their earthly life. We told them, “take a few hours and visit, they won’t be here forever.” Did they? If they are fortunate, they did. If they blew it off and went on with their ever demanding life and the burden was left to another, they feel the guilt. We sometimes want them to feel it. They should feel it. The sacrifice a care giver bestows is comparable with parenthood. It is just hard to feel the joy of knowing they are in a better place. We are bereft of a part of our world and our lives and the pain is only healed by our beliefs and time itself. I have found a way to help with my personal pain and that of others. If the soul lives forever, I feel the memories should also.
In today’s age it is possible to create an everlasting monument to those who have gone before us. The family photo album and the home movies are great, but there are a few problems with these artifacts of remembrance. They are not flood proof, fire proof, tornado proof, and most of all they fall victim to divorce. An archive of memories and pictures of the deceased provides a life line to the past for future generations. An obituary in a paper cannot do justice in three or four paragraphs to a loved ones entire life. Then, the big papers charge an exorbitant rate to post an obituary for one day! We want our children’s children to know their heritage. We want them to be able to read stories from people who actually lived, loved, worked and interacted with us. We want them to hear our voice, see our image, and feel some of the passion we had in the short time we were on this earth. That is possible with today’s use of the internet and the World Wide Web.
I have traveled this road and did not see a way to cope with my grief. Thus, I created an avenue to do the above mentioned endeavors. The process of creating an online memorial provides not only peace and closure, but ensures that a little piece of your loved one is preserved for future generations to experience in a way never before available. The use of a virtual memory book lets those who could not attend a service, find some consolation in sharing an experience they had with a loved one. Virtual photo albums and video can capture everything we keep in our homes, and be shared through our hearts with those that cannot physically be available at the time of need.
I can only hope this works. My children are yet young. I will never know if my personal entry into the data fields will cause reflection in the years to come, when my great, great, grandchild sits down and looks upon a man he never knew. I do know that I felt a sense of accomplishment in setting up a way to do this. I know that others that have used this have felt great relief in participating in the process. I know that learning, living, loving, and remembering are some of the greatest gifts we are given and I want my ancestors to have a taste of my life. I would be proud to field any comments for positive or negative views on this line of reasoning and I appreciate the time you took to read it.
God Bless.
By Mark Mercer
