Dearly Departed

My shelves are filled with albums and layouts celebrating the joyful times of life: births, milestones, and happy memories. But when my beloved grandfather died a few weeks ago, I knew my 2006 album would be incomplete without a tribute (or two) in his memory. For anyone who has lost a loved one, I'll give a few ideas and inspirations for scrapbooking the dearly departed.

• Scrapbooking can be a very cathartic activity in the midst of sadness. By focusing on photographs of your loved one, you concentrate on his or her living years - and this can lessen the feeling of loss.
  
  
• Document the funeral/ceremony. Journal your thoughts on the day - who came from far away to honor him or her? What funny stories were shared in the eulogy? I want to remember putting a picture of my daughter in my grandfather's pocket, just like my grandmother put my picture in my great-grandfather's pocket at his funeral.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Sometimes it's healing to "talk" to the deceased. Consider writing journaling "to" the deceased. If you want to keep your letter private, conceal it in an envelope or folder, or place it behind the layout in your album.

As when scrapbooking any difficult memory, take it slow, allow yourself to grieve through the process, and remember that your tribute will be an invaluable gift to future generations. Live, love, and remember.