Roadside memorial bouquets

Oh! That happens in the book I read recently - Vernon God Little! Wonder if it was a dramatisation of that? Sorry I missed it if it was.

It's good I suppose that you have never suffered this kind of loss and cannot understand the need to place these monuments. I hope you remain in this blissful state, truly, I'd never wish this pain on anyone.

Aka - you don't know what has gone on in other posters' lives.

Nor you in mine.

Precisely. So best not to get too personal.

When I wrote 'you' I wasn't referring to you personally Jo or I would have written your name. I meant the plural 'you'...all those who posted negatively about this. So nothing personal. Please don't get angry with me.

I'm not angry! I didn't think you did mean just me.

Personal means aimed at one particular person. I guess you must havd mean for me not to let my personal feelings out?

Right behind you, aka. I have not suffered such a loss but I think I can begin to imagine....

And somehow, a bit of untidiness or unwanted cellophane ceases to have much, if any, importance.

Thanks Bags. But perhaps Jois right and there's a time and place, and this isn't it. Off now.

Gransnet is always the time and place. Don't be put off by the pokers, aka.

I didn't mean that Aka!!! No way!

Oh, exercise bike calls. Telling me to shift my ar posterior.

Come back aka. Your opinion is as valuable as everyone else's

Hang on in there Aka. I know how it feels when you are thinking you are not being understood properly. I took a "breather* for a week when I felt unhappy about something but then felt ready to return. Most GNs are brilliant and supportive and I feel my life has been enriched. Just occasionally someone is insensitive without meaning to be . They are just expressing their opinion but we are on dangerous ground when we don't know the background to someone else's problem.

I haven't commented on this thread so far as I knew it would be emotive but for the record I live on a badly lit main road and have 3 such memorials within a stone's throw of our house. -They have been there for 5 or 6years now . My grandchildren and I frequently comment on them and it reminds us of the sacredness of life and the sadness of "sudden death" families." Two of them date from Christmas times which make them extra poignant.

Hi folks. Didn't mean I'm off for ever, just taking a breather. Thanks for your concerns I have just sorted out my 'wardrobe' packed away my woollies and thermals.
#howzthatforpositivethinking

Yes Gorki it's a reminder to be thankful for what we have.

There is a dangerous road in Greece - I've a feeling it is on the way to Piraeus but can't quite remember . It is lined with very solid concrete shrines to those who have written themselves off or been written off in their cars. It hasn't in my opinion acted as a deterrent and as Gorki commented three memorials in one road why hasn't the council looked into it.

They have. They have reduced the speed limit to 40mph !! (for the built -up bit of the road only ) Hasn't made a scrap of difference! When our fence was demolished a few weeks ago by a night-time driver I reported it to the Police and said we needed some lights on the road (at the moment there are 2 ). Their reply was that if I told the Council they might reduce the speed limit further. This will have no effect unless they take measures to enforce it. Sadly we also lost our cat to a speeding driver some years ago.

I've been to the 'shrine' erected in memory of James Dean who famously was killed driving his Porsche on a Californian road (an American friend lives in nearby Salinas).

The memorial is about a mile from the crash site in a lay-by, presumably to prevent further accidents.

I find the impromptu memorials very poignant, but distracting for drivers.

I respect and understand the impulse to commemorate a sudden or violent death by leaving flowers, messages and candles at or near the site. I think it's interesting that the growth in the practice of creating these shrines has happened as formal religious observance has been in decline. I think it may indicate a deep-seated need in many people for ritual and for spiritual comfort.

Just got back.

I would just like to apologise for upsetting Aka or anybody else for implying that people who leave flowers covered in cellophane would ever be the same people who would jettison litter from car windows.

Ever.

Its strange that this subject has come up now. My daughter was at a health talk due to her work last week and when she left at 8pm and was driving home she thought she saw a young man with his head in his hands at the side of the road, she slowed down ready to help him and noticed there wasn't a damaged bike anywhere near so couldn't work out how he may have been injured. Taking her eyes away to watch the road and looking back again, he wasn't there, just a bunch of flowers!!
She is an intelligent young woman and not psychic in any way normally, should she find out who the flowers where for and contact the family?

My advice would be to leave it be. It might upset the family more than comfort them.

Agree, it may be more likely to be upsetting. Perhaps she is psychic and doesn't know it.

loneranger .........more things in heaven and earth than this world dreams of.