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Flowers are for the living
By juliezavala in My Turn
May 4, 2011

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I have often loftily proclaimed that it doesn't make sense to send flowers to a funeral home - to a dead person. Flowers are for the living, I insisted when I would make the argument to my husband.

Over the years I've been to, or knew of, relative's funerals and I sometimes sent flowers and sometimes didn't. And I've never liked funerals so my attendance was always spotty at best. Now I understand how ignorant I was.

The flowers and plants that were delivered to my Dad's funeral meant so much to me. I read each card and was grateful for each line of condolence or affirmation of how wonderful daddy was. Dad didn't get many, but it was not because he wasn't loved. I was also grateful for every person that came to say goodbye to my Dad.

Flowers are for the living; the ones left behind to pick up the pieces after their loved one dies. Flowers are a comfort and a declaration that people care about how the mourners feel. The dead couldn't care less, right? It only took me 34 adult years and one sweet little old man to figure this out.

I'm looking at the world with new eyes.