Epitaphs
/New York City’s Central Park is lined with benches dedicated to people (and some pets too) from all over the world. I love reading these little plaques and started capturing photos of the ones that really touched me.
Sometimes I sit and imagine the people the bench is dedicated to. It’s become a spiritual practice when I’m in the city and reminds me the impact we each make and the ripple effect we have on one another’s lives, even when we don’t always know it.
As we honored Memorial Day yesterday, I kept thinking about these benches as tangible memory objects.
The bench plaques feel like epitaphs, but somehow less sad than on a gravestone.
On the benches with millions of people passing by or resting, they offer hope, connection, and a reminder that our legacy lives on long after we do.
These epitaphs bring inspiration to be more conscious and intentional about life while we have it.
Here are what the plaques say in this photo:
Willie Gwathmey 1993-2014; Happy, kind, fun, full of love for all. Thank you for 20 years of pure joy. We will love you forever.
Mum - An inspiration to us all, we love you. Jeremy, Marci, Pippa, Tony, Moira
Donna, wife and love of my life. A bit of your adored park. It is now forever yours. Io ti amber per semipro. Joe
For the hours of pleasure with Lola and Clarence in this urban paradise. Sit, rest, and enjoy the peace.
To our grandparents from China Xie-Mei Zhao & Guang-Kui-Zeng who loved this special place. -Victoria and Gretchen Levy
Herbert S Chase 1918-1999 Dreamer, inventor, philosopher, mentor, devoted father, grandfather, husband. We love and miss you!
For Andy, who took me walking through the hills of Jerusalem. Angelica
Herb’s Classic Sayings: You’re due! You’ve got to have a plan. The beauty of it is…
peace of mind, clarity of thought, eternal happiness
“Life is a lot more fun when you decide to live it. Break routine, have fun, explore.” 39 countries in 28 years. June 11, 1992 -Dec 26, 2020 www.connorreisenbigler.com You are deeply loved and sorely missed by all whose paths you crossed and lives you touched.
To the best Dog-ma in the world…Love Teva, Kelev, and Violet
Frank Taira, American Artist 1913-2010 “I love Central Park…naturally beautiful landscapes full of people, of life.”
Leonard Dear, Meet me here. I love you. Janet
A teacher affects eternity, she can never tell where her influence leads…Hellen Faith Keane Reichert, born Nov 1901, still teaching, still learning!
To our Andy, “If there comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.”-Pooh Danielle, Scott, and Talia
…for Alexander and Nicholas Freund who love to visit New York…
…for Mel and Dian Grais who explored the world together…
For Gracie and Daisy for all the walks and companionship, John and Marjorie
This bench is for everyone as is love peace freedom, Melinda and Alan Blinken
“Who says New Yorkers don’t have big yards?” The Mann Family, Jeff, Sky, Dylan, Shayna
I may not be your first date, kiss, or love…but I want to be your last everything. A&T
If you were going to have a plaque on a bench, what would you want it to say?
The constraints for Central Park benches currently are, “up to 4 lines with 30 characters per line (including spaces and punctuation).”
Can you say what you want to say, or have said about you, in 120 characters?
Give it a go.
By writing mine, it helped me set an intention to truly become it in this present moment so it will ring true when I’m gone. Here is my first draft: For our Ginger, who always brought love into the room and inspired us to be the love in the room too!
Will yours be funny? Inspiring? A reminder of something important to you? A quote? One of your famous phrases? An inside joke with your family? Something about your art or creativity? How you served humanity? The things that made you laugh? That quirky thing you know how to do? The family you adore? The animals who are your precious companions? An accomplishment? A blessing? A thank you? A wish for generations from now?
Perhaps you could have this discussion with the people you love this week.
May our desired epitaph be our focus for the way we live every day.
With that, let’s get started having a fabulous summer and feeling fully alive!
How about every day this summer, we say “What a day!”
Thank you Ute, the day I saw this one, I used it as my mantra throughout the day. I’m doing it again today and it feels good already!
Look around you…oh what a day!
