The first major 9/11 public memorial was dedicated in front of the Pentagon on September 11, 2008. The day after the memorial opened, The Washington Post ran a story titled “A long-awaited opening, bringing closure to many.” After the death of Osama bin Laden in May of this year, headlines around the nation proclaimed that we could now have closure…. Read More
No Room for 9/11 Survivors
Many people are anticipating the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero in New York City, though not fully completed, will have a grand opening on September 11, 2011. There will be a somber, poignant memorial service to remember the tragedy that happened on September 11, 2001. However, the invitation list for this… Read More
Making Money from the 9/11 Attacks
As we get closer to September 11, we will hear more about the 9/11 attacks. The tenth anniversary of this tragedy will be remembered differently depending on your own connection to the events. If you lost a loved one in the attacks, your grief and memories will be more difficult than what most may experience. Some people will solemnly reflect… Read More
A “How-To” Guide for Grief
Most of us do it now. We turn to the Internet to find out how to do things. How long do you boil eggs? How do you get rid of fruit flies? How do you treat a sunburn? How do you get over the death of someone you love? Oh, wait, that last question seems out of place. But on… Read More
Questions Remain after Amy Winehouse’s Death
Amy Winehouse, a talented and troubled musician, was found dead in her apartment on July 23. The initial autopsy, completed on July 25, was inconclusive as to the cause of death. Some people said there was no closure because the autopsy did not provide answers. Others hope the Winehouse’s family will get “some kind of closure” when the toxicology and… Read More
Going Out in Style: Death, Fashion, and Funerals
Funeral directors would have us believe that viewing a loved one’s body after death is necessary for closure. In Closure, I explain why funeral directors want us to believe this idea for marketing reasons. Funeral home directors encourage a family to have a public viewing of the formally presented and embalmed body complete with cosmetics. In most cases, embalming is… Read More
Casey Anthony and the Search for Closure
Most people talking, twittering, or complaining about the Casey Anthony case do not personally know the victim, Caylee Anthony, or her family. Yet it seems that a significant part of the nation has not only an opinion about the case but a “need for closure” to the tragedy. When Casey Anthony was found not guilty, there were those who said… Read More
Closure: The Rush to End Grief and What It Costs Us
Have you noticed that following a tragedy people are often quick to talk about the need for closure? Has someone close to you died recently and you are feeling rushed by others to “move on” from your grief? What does closure even mean and can it be found? These are just a few of the questions I raise in Closure:… Read More
