In Memoriam
I’m not sure when the trend began, but over the years it seems that crosses at the point of automobile deaths have multiplied exponentially. I don’t stopto look at them, but I will make an effort to read the names or look at the pictures as I drive by, which, I guess, is the point of them being there. But in the short drive from the grocery store to my home, there are 4 crosses, the most recent being the twelve-year-olds who took a joyride last week that ended up wrapped around a pine tree. The other 3 crosses also represent people who were 18 years old and younger. (I know because I read the “born-on” date).
God forbid anything should ever happen to my child, but I would think a gravestone would be sufficient. I don’t think that I would want a memorial in the spot of her death. It’s not like I wouldn’t know where she died; I’m sure no parent could ever drive past the spot their child died without being acutely aware that it happened THERE. Do they think that the spirit lingers there? Are they supposed to serve as a warning to others? Because honestly, I must live in one of the most dangerous places to drive in Houston.
I don’t mean to sound heartless or uncaring, but it’s just damn CREEPY. I don’t deal with death well, and to be surrounded by these contant reminders of mortality while I’m head-long into middle age does not help the anxiety levels. There has to be a better way to celebrate a life cut short than memorializing their place of death. I wouldn’t want to be remembered wrapped around a tree.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
I hear ya. They creep me out, too, like someone died right there on that spot and , well, it’s just creepy. And sad, but mostly creepy.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:20 am
They kind of creep me out too, but mostly I feel bad their parents or friends have to construct a shoddy shrine to them. I think if they want to do something like this the state should sanction the crosses and say the family or people have to keep up the site like mowing, or pay a fee to have them kept. I’m with you though, isn’t a tombstone enough?
~Jef
July 27th, 2006 at 11:23 am
I don’t mean to sound heartless or uncaring
Really? Because it sure came off that way.
People grieve in different ways. What creeps you out may be of comfort to someone else. Perhaps a little compasson and tolerance are in order for people who think differently than you, and have lost a loved one.
January 27th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
When your dad and I were in South America they told us they believe the “soul” is at the spot of the death until the second coming, they constuct different types of “shrines” in very high regards for the dead person, some are quite elaborate, some very simple, I have to agree with your bloggers on this one K, tolerance and compassion go a long way and yes it does remind you of your own mortality.