Week 29: Signs to Think About

With Devan & Sam

So good to be with the family

Sam's Favorite Word

I'm letting the "cat out of the bag": Yes -- We were in Utah for a couple of days to help celebrate Sam's upcoming graduation from UVU. The graduation is not until May 2, but on April 26 he and fourteen other Graphic Design students displayed their Senior Projects. We will miss all the graduation hoopla, but we are so grateful that it worked out for us to be able to see the culmination of this project -- something that represents a life-time of thought, preparation, and use of extraordinary talent.

Quoting from Sam, "For my senior project  I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on where I've come from and where I'd like to go from here. Planning a funeral seemed like an appropriate way to encapsulate this. The project was an exercise in branding -- who I am, what I value and who I want to be."

Sam's rendition of the Plan of Salvation

It's really not as "morbid" as it sounds. The things Sam designed -- his 78-page funeral guidebook, large posters (signs), and other items were very thought provoking, full of symbolism, and  stirred a myriad of constructive and meaningful emotions within many who viewed his work.You really would have had to have been there to fully understand. Actually, I'm still reading through his "guidebook" and trying to absorb the insights and perceptions of life and death that he has shared therein.

There is much I'd love to share here, but here's just one more thought from Sam: "Designing your own funeral is basically visualizing who you want to be. You create an event that embodies who you are, what you value and believe... A funeral is a checkpoint at which we showcase our work so far. It is a showcase of our creative portfolio to this point. Living is the ultimate creative process. How will you create?"

Speaking of life, death, and thought-provoking "signs" -- now would be a good time to include photos of signs we've seen while sight-seeing here in western Washington.

Giant Chalkboard on side of  building

Nurse Logs are created when an old tree falls and begins to decompose on the forest floor. Stumps are most often the remnants of a logged tree, also left to decay. This decomposition makes many nutrients available for other plants, and in short time, the old log or stump begins to sprout moss, other plants, and even seedlings of other trees. The rotten wood holds moisture well, even through the dry summer months, further supporting the new growth. In addition, nurse logs and stumps are elevated areas that are above competing vegetation layers on the forest floor such as moss, ferns, herbs, and small shrubs. Many tall trees with finger-like roots, or prop roots, began their life on a nurse log or a stump.

I hope that I can live such that when I die, I might be worthy of being a "nurse log". More food for thought.

Speaking of food -- Sam and I both request that there be no funeral potatoes, or pre-sliced boneless ham served at our funerals.

That is all.