Death is something we as living beings can never understand. The cause is sometimes known-- Other times, we couldn't be more confused. The questions fly through our head, wildly dancing back and forth across the expanse of our mind. Flirting with our heart and soul, mixing with feelings of pain, anger, guilt, and regret. We want to scream, but can't utter a word. Our bodies shaking with the grim reality that indeed, this person--whom you loved so much--is now gone and you can never truly say goodbye.

Once touched by death, something is taken from you--your innocence is shattered and the cruel truth of our existence on this plane comes known... We all must die.

As fallible human beings--in all our mortal glory--we will never truely be able to understand the why.

We can, however, hypothesize about death and about the burials that go along with it.

I believe that death is a natural occurrence. As humanity progresses in the realm of medical knowledge the only thing we have managed to do is stall death. We have found ways to in a sense 'cheat' death, but no matter what we may do--we can't beat it.

Perhaps what we do for the burials of those we love is because we are trying to make up for what we couldn't do--or say--while they were alive. Silk or satin lined... Oak, Cherry, or Redwood coffins. What does it all mean?

Sadly, it is our last goodbye. Our last chance to make amends for whatever we couldn't do while that person was still with us. But there is hope, for the person still lives on in our memories. In my experience, you know the person is gone. But in your heart, after the pain is gone, you can feel only the love you had for that person while they were alive. As long as their memory continues, they will live on inside you.