Thursday, March 8, 2018
Green Burial at Seven Stones
Early March means it time for a trip to Colorado for the wild and wacky Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Nederland! It takes place in the mountains west of Boulder this weekend, March 9-11. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the coffin races, the parade of hearses, the documentary “Grandpa’s in the TUFF Shed,” and The Newly-Dead Game® that I’m presenting there this Saturday and Sunday. Can’t wait to meet the live vultures at the Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center where you’ll find me. More information here.
While I’m in the Denver metro neighborhood, check out “Going Green: New Trends in Death Care.” This free talk takes place this Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the Eastridge Recreation Center, 9568 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch. It’s sponsored by Heflebower Funeral & Cremation Services and Seven Stones Botanical Garden Cemetery. More information here.
And next week, if you’re in Santa Fe March 15-17, check out the events at Transitioning Artfully: Approaching the Intersection of Art and Death. Thursday evening, March 15, I’m presenting “Answers to your burning questions on cremation,” and Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. I’m conducting a Death Cafe. There’s also an urn art show, movies, and behind the scenes tours at Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. More information here.
This past weekend, I won first place in our Toastmasters Area contest with my speech, “Letting Go.” Looking forward to taking this speech all the way to the Toastmasters International convention in August!
Links to recent posts at The Family Plot Blog, upcoming events and a humorous quote follow. Please call 505.265.7215 if I can be of assistance!
Live long and prosper,
Gail Rubin, CT
Certified in Thanatology:
Death, Dying and Bereavement
The Doyenne of Death®
The Family Plot Blog Highlights
Click on the titles to read the blog post and see the associated videos. Review all posts on The Family Plot Blog or view just the Death Cartoons posted on the blog!
Dogs Find Lost Cremated Remains and Other News Keeping the cremated remains of loved ones around the house? This NPR story on Weekend Edition Sunday will make you consider finding a permanent final resting place for those remains.
Can You Actually Benefit From Sadness? Even though death and loss breaks hearts, many people strive to stay positive and upbeat. “Must not cry” is the unconscious mantra of many grievers – and it’s harmful. (A preview of my April convention presentations for the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association and the Association for Death Education and Counseling.)
Pre-Need Funeral Planning in the News The New York Times and the Huffington Post in Canada just ran separate articles on pre-need funeral planning. I hope this prompts more people to take action and actually plan ahead for this inevitable life cycle event.
Upcoming Events and a Humorous Quote
See the Calendar page for a full listing of events.
March 9, 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. — “Going Green: New Trends in Death Care” in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is sponsored by Heflebower Funeral & Cremation Services of Highlands Ranch and Seven Stones Botanical Garden Cemetery in Littleton.
March 9 to 11 — Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Nederland, Colorado.
March 15 to 17 — Transitioning Artfully: Approaching the Intersection of Art and Death is a three-day event in Santa Fe, NM, celebrating life, art, and transitions into death. Includes Gail Rubin’s talk, “Answers to your burning questions on cremation,” an urn art show, movies, and Death Cafe conversations. Hosted by Berardinelli Family Funeral Service.
March 20, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. — “Lessons from Six Feet Under” Osher Lifelong Learning Institute talk in Corrales. More information here.
Saturday, March 24, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Albuquerque Death Cafe in the Hobby Room at Manzano Del Sol Village, 5201 Roma NE, Albuquerque, NM. More info here.
“Never ski alone.” — Bredo Morstoel, the Frozen Dead Guy
The second annual Before I Die ABQ Festival will be held October 30 to November 4, 2018. Call Gail at 505.265.7215 to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.
Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.
Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die ABQ Festival. She also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio and online video spots. Her YouTube Channel features more than 400 videos!
Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.
Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.