summer_jackel

I've noticed this really odd little custom springing up---that of having decals on your car announcing a death, presumably of a loved one. Instead of, like, a Jesus fish, Calvin praying or little stick figures to represent each member of your family (personally, I have a howling wolf and the silhouette of a clothed woman reading a book on my truck's rear window), you see "John Doe, 1973-2007," sometimes with a little epitaph like 'we miss you.'

OK, so I'm easily as morbid as the next girl. Death and its imagery has always fascinated me and you could probably even get away with accusing me of being a teeny bit goth around the corners. And I certainly understand and respect being in mourning. I can see how having some signal to strangers that you've suffered a recent loss and to be kind to you could be necessary, so maybe this is like automotive mourning garb. But...turning your vehicle into a rolling memorial? Does this help the grief process along? Does it mean that this person died in the car? (Because that's where my sick little mind wants to go). Like, did the driver run over him and this is her attonement?

Isn't it a teeny tiny bit tacky?

Anyway, trends, they amuse. Have any of you seen this around? I've been noticing it a fair amount. This post was inspired by the SUV I was behind today which had not one but two very large memorial stickers on the back window. And I feel kind of bad about snarking on this, because it's not nice to make fun of deaths in someone's family, but I kinda can't help myself. Guys, if I die any time soon, and I know I won't care then because I'll be dead, but memorialize me in some other way than a sticker on your car, ok?