The Family Plot Blog
When the Plane Crashes, What Do You Think About?
With the release of the new film Sully, about the airline pilot who safely landed a disabled jetliner on the Hudson River (the "Miracle on the Hudson"), it's a good time to consider being prepared for end-of-life issues, no matter your age or health. After all, we never know when our last day will come. This guest blog post from Stephen Hartnett, J.D., LL.M., Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, makes this issue...
Statistics on Americans’ Astounding Amount of Clutter
Americans own a crippling amount of items that clutter our lives. How much stuff do we own, how has this number changed over time, and how does this impact us? This story from BecomingMinimalist.com is eye opening. Joshua Becker wrote "21 Surprising Statistics That Reveal How Much Stuff We Actually Own." Here are just a few of those surprising statistics: Most of us know we own too much stuff. We feel the weight and burden of our clutter. We...
Decluttering Tips for the Fall Season
Is clutter a problem for you? One of my tips from KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die was included in this article "Move Over Spring Cleaning, Time for Fall Declutter" on the website StoredBy.com. The story includes these great ideas and tips about benefits of downsizing in the fall: Seasonal shifts inspire change and productivity. Get ready for the holidays and "gift hiding." You can focus on...
The Great Gatsby and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Grave
The grave of renowned 20th century novelist F. Scott (Francis Scott Key) Fitzgerald is located the middle of Rockville, Maryland, right next to St. Mary's Catholic Church. The historic church and its graveyard were dedicated in 1817. Fitzgerald's novels in the 1920s included This Side of Paradise, Tender is the Night, The Beautiful and The Damned, and his most famous work, The Great Gatsby. The the city of Rockville has grown enormously over...
Goodbye to Gene Wilder
The world mourned the death of actor Gene Wilder, whose comic genius is indelibly burned into our collective consciousness in films like Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Producers. He died at the age of 83 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. I can't fathom Gene Wilder as being elderly or demented. He will always be the guy with crazy hair who embodied an amazing gift of making us...
The Jaguar Hearse Comes to Albuquerque!
What a thrill it was to see, touch and even sit in the driver's seat of the Jaguar hearse recreated from the cult classic film, Harold and Maude! The man who undertook this challenge, Ken Roberts, was in Albuquerque on August 20 with his wife Glenda for the local Jaguar Concours d'Elegance, a judging competition. My picture in the hearse is now the new Facebook page cover for A Good Goodbye. Check out the story below about how it was built....
Sept. 18: Converse at the Albuquerque Death Cafe
The next Albuquerque Death Cafe is scheduled for Sunday, September 18 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gail Rubin's home. It's an opportunity to discuss what's on your mind or in your heart regarding mortality issues. The objective of the Death Cafe is “To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” It’s all about an interesting, unstructured conversation – open and free-flowing with no...
Cartoonist Richard Thompson Made Us Laugh
The award-winning cartoonist Richard Thompson, widely known for his syndicated comic strip Cul de Sac and Richard's Poor Almanac cartoons, died of complications from Parkinson's Disease at the age of 58 on July 27, 2016. A memorial service will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, Saturday, August 27, at 1:00 p.m. This is personal. I knew and loved Richard Thompson long before he became famous. We worked together...
Sept. 6: Funny Films for Funeral Planning
Gail Rubin presents “Laughing in the Face of Death: Funny Films for Funeral Planning” at Congregation Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Rd, Rockville, Maryland, on Tuesday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. It's a special evening event, part of their "Live and Learn" series. The comedy film clip-illustrated talk covers: Why we need to plan ahead, but most people don't. The information that needs to be found found and decisions made under duress of grief....
How to Recreate a Famous Jaguar Hearse
The cult classic film Harold and Maude features an awesome piece of automotive engineering: the Jaguar hearse Harold constructs after his mother takes away his beloved 1959 hearse (a Cadillac Superior coach, owned by a collector in Modesto, CA). Sadly, the original Jaguar hearse was destroyed during the filming of the movie in 1971. But there's a new hearse in town! Ken Roberts, an Arizona-based car enthusiast, began work to recreate the...
Downsize, Make Money and Save the Environment!
Yes, it is possible to make money and save the environment when you downsize. In this short speech by Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death (and now the Doyenne of Downsizing), she demonstrates how she's leading by example when it comes to lightening her load of stuff around the house. According to the 2007 video "The Story of Stuff," while Americans make up 5% of the world's population, we consume 30% of the world's natural resources and generate...
How To Downsize Our Household Goods Before We Die
We are a nation of unbridled consumers – and as we age, all those consumer goods have to go somewhere – given to our heirs or to charitable organizations, sold or given to strangers or carted to the dump. When you look at the numbers, adults have a lot of downsizing to do. According to the 2007 video The Story of Stuff, the United States has 5% of the world’s population, yet we’re using 30% of the world’s resources and creating 30% of the...
The Meanings Behind Rituals for Military and Veteran Funerals
Why is the casket of a veteran or active military serviceperson covered with an American flag? When did "Taps" become a regular part of a veteran's memorial service? What's the significance of the 21-gun salute and the 13 precise folds of the American flag during a military funeral? These and other questions were answered by Jim Hammond, Dean of the School of International Studies, during the class on Military and Veterans Rituals at the...
August 24: Movies, Medicine and Mortality Presentation
Laughing in the Face of Death: Movies, Medicine and Mortality is a continuing education presentation for social workers and medical professionals. Gail Rubin, CT, will present this one-hour talk at the New Mexico Conference on Aging on Wednesday, August 24 at 12:15 p.m. The two-day conference takes place at Isleta Resort & Casino, 11000 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM. In hospitals, medical professionals, patients and families focus on...
What you need to know about funeral traditions
If you Google "Greek Orthodox Funeral Traditions," you'll find one of the top results is this post on the Family Plot Blog. Not yet covered in depth: Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, Hispanic or African-American traditions (although many religious traditions are already covered). That changes this coming week, as I attend the International Studies College of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) Summer...
Ways Grief and Mourning Reactions Can Vary
Killing and grief are all over the news and social media this summer. From the shootings in Orlando to Dallas police officers gunned down while protecting protesters, and all the other killings we’ve seen, our grief reactions have a pattern. Immediate reactions are shock, numbness, horror, sadness, anger and tears. Then come the candlelight vigils, the public memorials with flowers, flags, candles, teddy bears and hand-drawn cards expressing...
July 29: Laughing and Learning End-of-Life Workshop
On Friday, July 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., join Gail Rubin for an Osher Lifelong Learning class, “Laughing and Learning: A Practical End-of-Life Workshop." Even though humans have a 100% mortality rate, only 25% of us do any end-of-life planning. The Laughing and Learning workshop will give you the tools and the inspiration to take practical steps for outlining your funeral plans/memorial celebration, drafting your own obituary and/or...
July 30: Albuquerque Death Cafe
It’s time for another Albuquerque Death Cafe, which are quite lively! People come together to share what’s on their hearts and minds about mortality. The next Albuquerque Death Cafe is scheduled for July 30, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at death educator Gail Rubin’s home. The objective of the Death Cafe is “To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” It’s all about an interesting,...
Video: How a Thesaurus Makes You Appear Smarter
Using a thesaurus to liven up your language in speaking and writing can help you sound smarter. When you wear reading glasses, you can also look smarter. Here's a short speech I gave at Albuquerque Challenge Toastmasters Club on "Our Friend the Thesaurus." For those of you who don't know Patricia Fripp, referenced in this speech, in addition to being a renowned keynote speaker, she also coaches speakers and executives to improve their...
July 22-27: ICCFA University
Look for fresh Family Plot Blog posts on funeral customs of all major religions and of population groups from around the world! The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) holds its summer University in Memphis, Tennessee July 22 through 27, 2016. Thanks to a scholarship from Regions Bank, Gail Rubin is enrolled in the International Studies program, covering religious and cultural influences on funeral observations....
The Newlywed Game Turns 50 Today!
On this day in history, July 11, 1966, the TV game show The Newlywed Game premiered on ABC-TV. It was hosted by Bob Eubanks, who at the age of 28 was the youngest game show host on television at the time. The game pitted newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know (or don’t know) each other. Bob Eubanks immortalized the phrase “making whoopee” (used as a reference to...