Should someone in prison for life be considered for euthanasia if they ask for it? This is another situation to consider in planning assisted suicide. Would it be ok if they have terminal cancer? Or is it just enough that they don't want to stick around for their full life sentence?

To also consider is the cost for the public. Would it be cheaper to kill them (when asked) than to have them live out their full sentence (until given parole because how often do they complete a life sentence any more) in prison?

Also, is this the death penalty then, really? Should it be brought back - or should it be something prisoners can ask for themselves after being found guilty and put in prison?

Kind of ironic for those who oppose the death penalty.

A Belgian man three decades into a life sentence for rape and murder wanted doctors to help him die — and he nearly got his wish. Frank Van den Bleeken suffered no terminal disease when he was granted a doctor-assisted death in September 2014. Rather, he sought to end his “unbearable” psychological suffering, arguing his life behind bars was intolerable and there was no hope his violent sexual urges would ever go away. The case underscores some of the prickly issues Canadian corrections authorities may have to tackle with the legalization of medically assisted dying. So far, there’s been little clarity on how prisoner requests should be handled.

Source: Can inmates ask to die? Clarity urged around doctor-assisted death in prison - The Globe and Mail

I have left a stone on a grave for a family member. But, for my Grandparents, we leave a fresh take out coffee (paper cup) and a cigarette, not lit. It's something they would like, if they were still here. It's not the only way we remember them. But, its how we remember the small every day things about them. Plus, its much easier to leave a coffee than so many other things. I don't want to litter, or cause extra clean up for the staff who maintain the cemetery.

I did wonder about the tradition of leaving a stone on a grave. I found a post about it, from Joy Neighbors, on her old site.

For thousands of years, people were buried in tombs or directly in the earth where they had fallen. Stones were then rolled in front of a tomb as a way of sealing it from scavengers and keeping evil spirits from escaping out into the world.

For those buried in the ground, rocks and stones were placed on top of the usually shallow grave to keep animals from digging up the body. These stacks of stones were known as cairns. Cairns can be found all over the world and vary in size from a few rocks to man-made hills.

Cairns were built not only as funeral monuments but also for ceremonies and defense. Today they are still constructed to mark trails, as seamarks, as sculpture, and as memorials.

Another reason rocks were left on the grave was based on an Eastern European folklore belief that the dead could haunt their burial place, or return to their family and cause trouble. Stones and rocks were used to prevent the deceased from rising up and escaping the body as a spirit, to torment others.

It is also a Jewish custom to place a stone or pebble on a headstone to indicate that you have visited the grave and to indicate respect for the deceased. Adding a stone was also seen as taking part in the Mitzvah of Matzevah or the ‘setting of stone.’

Today, leaving a stone of remembrance is viewed more as a way of continuing this tradition of commemoration. The more stones found at a grave, the more the deceased has been visited and remembered by others. An example would be the scene in Schindler’s List when the people that Oskar Schindler saved visit his grave and honor him by placing stones upon it.

Symbolically, the stones can indicate many things; that love and remembrance are as strong and as lasting as a rock. That as a stone lasts forever so to does love. Even a belief that the deceased is with God, since the Old Testament refers to God as a rock, as in Psalm 18:2 -- "The Lord is my rock…”

Regardless of how the custom came about, it is still an incredible way to remember and respect those who have passed on. Leaving a stone or pebble is a gesture of appreciation for the strong and lasting impression they have made on your life. Stones left by others show a long-term influence in their lives as well. What a wonderful way to leave a lasting tribute of love and honor at the grave site.

Source: A Grave Interest: Leaving Stones on Graves Joy Neighbors.

Description from the site:

I am a Tombstone Tourist: someone who loves to wander cemeteries. I find it akin to visiting a museum: an opportunity to enjoy rarely seen sculpture, intricate carvings, and amazing architecture, all in a tranquil outdoor setting. This blog is about cemetery culture, art, history, issues of death, and genealogy - subjects of current relevance. I usually find something that intrigues me and makes me want to dig deeper. Care to join me? Read on...

Bringing back an old tradition in a new way.

These 2 rings are based on mourning jewellery, but instead are a celebration of the everlasting bond between two people. Have your very own hair intertwined with your lovers and set behind sapphire crystal and 10Kt yellow gold. These rings are strong and durable so you can wear a symbol of your love on your wedding finger all day, everyday.

Victorian mourning jewellery was popular in the 1800's. Since death was so common, it became popular for jewellers to set custom 'hair art' behind glass and metal so people could keep a piece of their loved one after they'd died. Hair is so special because it remains long after our bodies have faded, and is as unique as a finger print.

via Custom Hair Wedding Rings Modern Victorian by Ricksonjewellery.

I read about Derek K. Miller's living wake in his blog. Derek died May 3rd. Jade Walker posted a link to his blog and that's how I began reading and eventually came to the post about his living wake. It's a good idea. I've always thought a funeral was kind of sad because the person everyone was there to think of, give tribute to, is not able to attend.

I found another post about a living wake on Care Pages, a wife held a living wake for her husband who had terminal cancer. Of course, a living wake would only work for someone with cancer or some other disease which gave them a limited time to live. I wouldn't want to know when I am going to die, if it were sudden, but having the time to plan and say good bye would be comforting if you knew your time was short.

A living wake is not a life celebration, where people attend after the death to remember the deceased. However, part of the living wake would be to remember the life you have lived, the people you met along the way and your accomplishments, happy moments, etc. Knowing this was the last time for so many things I'd want to take time to plan the living wake and make sure I wouldn't regret anything I wish I had done at the time, later.

I didn't find information about planning a living wake so I am thinking of ideas myself and putting them here for anyone who finds this useful.

• Every holiday, family birthday and occasion can be packed into the living wake. Have a birthday cake,  decorate the Christmas tree, hand out Valentine chocolates, wear New Year hats, cook a turkey and so on. Set out photos of family trips and milestones.
• Invite as many people as you can find. Host the wake outside if you can or find a place easy for people to get to and drop in. Don't make it a long event, but something where people can drop in, sign a guest book and visit awhile. Chances are the person the wake is for won't be a fall of fire and will need to keep it short or take a few breaks to regather energy.
• Make sure you have something people can take away with them, a signed photo, a poem, something to remember the occasion and the friend/ relative. Also, have them all sign a guest book so anyone who does not get to visit can still leave a note, maybe even a last gift if they happen to bring something.
• Serve food which can be nibbled on. A mix of hot and cold like salads would give people something to do with their hands when they don't quite know what to say or do.
• Set up a display with photos over the years: baby to child, to teenager to adult... have a laugh at old fashions and hair styles and a favourite raggedy old sweater which everyone will remember the family/ friend wearing far too often and far too long.
• If people will understand the humour, have a roast where the friend/ family member gives some parting shots to everyone who attends (or anyone they have something they want to say).
• Use digital photos and video to record the event and play the video, show the photos so people can see them as the wake goes along. Let people share them by emailing the best/ favourite photos to each other before they go home. They could be put on an account on Flickr or Facebook to be distributed quickly.
• Let people stand up and speak if they have something they would like to say, maybe something they have planned or thought of while wandering around the room. Some last words of their own. The plan is for everyone to say goodbye while they can still be heard after all.
• If there are belongings which will be distributed in a will later why not give them now, when the  stories can be told about the belonging rather than people trying to remember how it all went later. You could even type out notes to go along with each thing and include the story behind it, the reason it's being given to that person in particular and any other details about how it works and how it was used.
• Think about favourite music, books, films, any favourite things which you could have at the living wake in person or represented on a bulletin board or some other type of display.
• Write a short biography with personal notes and commentary added in. This would be a good way for everyone to remember happy times, old jokes and old stories.

What other ideas can you think of?

I forget which celebrity it was, but an RIP for one of them became a trend post to Twitter last week. Turned out the rumours of his death were false. I posted "We should all do a fake RIP for each other just to see if anyone notices." Well, Catherinette noticed and wrote an RIP for me. Thanks Catherinette.

RIP @thatgrrl she was an inspirational tweeter. I want her followers. #RIPrumors

RIP @Catherinette Well known for being gorgeous, glamorous and modest. Send chocolate to her home address. #RIPrumors

Pick someone and write a fake RIP for them and post it to Twitter (or keep it to 140 characters or less, if you don't use Twitter).

Note: There is the issue of the Canadian spelling of 'rumour' versus 'rumor'. I chose to stick with Canadian spelling for my post but kept the US spelling for Catherinette on Twitter. Does that make sense? Of course not. :)