Last month I had the television on and in the background was a documentary on the boxer, Joe Louis. I snapped to attention at the mention of Louis’ attorney, Truman K. Gibson Jr. Honestly, I’m sad to say that I’d never heard of Gibson, until 2006, when his grand daughter called from D.C. to order his urn.

At the close of the conversation, she told me that me that this great man had a hand in making history and his name was Truman Gibson. She invited me to look him up.

I did.

And was blown away.

And honored.

Brief Highlights:

Black Cabinet: a Chicago attorney who had been the last surviving member of the World War II-era “black Cabinet” of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S Truman.

Racial Covenants: Mr. Gibson was a member of the legal team that challenged a restrictive racial covenant prohibiting African Americans from living in the Washington Park area of the South Side. He spent months poring over property deeds to build the factual basis for the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned the covenant. The plaintiff was black real-estate developer Carl Hansberry, whose daughter Lorraine would use the experience as inspiration for her 1959 Pulitzer Prize-winning play “A Raisin in the Sun.”

Army Racial Segregation: With the outbreak of war in Europe and the increasing likelihood that the United States would be drawn in, the Roosevelt administration sought to answer the growing outcry from black Americans over the segregated military and the second-class support status of African Americans in the military. Mr. Gibson played an influential role in finally convincing the Army that it had to commit African-American troops to battle. Most notably, the black 92nd Infantry Division was thrown against the heavily fortified German Gothic Line in northern Italy in early 1945 in a terrible bloodletting that remains a source of controversy.

And it goes on and on.

Thank you Truman Gibson.

According to Darren Crouch of Passages International, 40% of cremation families plan to scatter the ashes. 70% of those cremation families plan to scatter the ashes over water.

We’ve talked to several families this past week, mostly from California, who have planned this style of ceremony. Often families don’t think they’ll need an urn for this method of memorialization. The truth is, that an urn will simplify the process and eliminate the chance of “blow back”. There are a couple of urn options suitable for water burial that are environmentally friendly, attractive and designed to float for a few minutes and then gracefully sink in the water. One of the nice qualities about these urns is the fact that they are made from recycled paper and molded into the shape of a shell or a “pillow” style vessel.

Some of these families plan to scatter from a boat, or have organized paddle-outs, a traditional Hawaiian good-bye for departed Polynesian kings. Often, flowers, wreaths, rose petals, or leis are cast out after the ashes are in the water.

For families that plan to keep the urn in the home or stored safely in a niche at the cemetery, the Pear Blossom Cloisonne Urn is a beautiful resting place for your loved one. Soothing sage green and snowy white pear blossoms speak Spring and renewal. Wisdom and Hope.

Incorporating a simple floral design and calming colors with the ancient art form invented by the French and perfected by the Chinese, Cloisonne is a statement of Strength and Beauty. Our urns are handcrafted and constructed from brass, copper, and colored enamel, fired in a kiln, and gilded. As a result of this painstaking process, every cloisonne urn is a beautiful, durable and unique work of art.

As difficult and harsh as the weather’s been lately, the beauty of spring is beginning to emerge. Buds on the trees, greening of the grass, birds returning to the garden.

Mr. Davis shared these predictions for the future from a 1968 Mechanixs Illustrated mag:

People have more time for leisure activities in the year 2008. The average work day is about four hours. But the extra time isn’t totally free. The pace of technological advance is such that a certain amount of a jobholder’s spare time is used in keeping up with the new developments —- on the average, about two hours of home study a day.

Home study? Yes. Leisure time? NO. More please.

So we get it where we can. Miss CK NY’s post brought a tear, as well as Mr. Goddard’s “Ahead of the Curve” in Georgia about catching those little waves.

Finally, condolences to our neighbor to the South, the Bus Driver on the loss of his mom. Health wise, it’s been a difficult year for Mary Lou and her son Jim has been paying tribute to his Mother on his blog.

And on her final gift:

This morning, at 5:50 am, Mom left this earthly life. She specifically directed her mortal remains be given to Mid American Transplant Service and what could not be harvested, be used for research. What is left is to be cremated and placed with our Dad’s cremains in their plot the National Cemetery at Glenstone and Seminole.

I’ll always remember my sweet Etta Mae’s words: “Honey, after 80, it’s all downhill. EVERYTHING falls apart.”

Today’s tip: DO IT NOW

23 year old girl 1: He’s such a player, like, he’s got a zillion girlfriends.

20 something girl 2: Is he hot?

23 year old girl 1: Oh GAWD! He’s such a GRANDPA!

20 something girl 2: How old is he?

23 year old girl 1: Oh, like 45!

Me: cough. choke. sputter.

One of our families is planning a memorial service to be held on a cruise. The widower cleared it with the cruise line and explained that they’d like to scatter the ashes at sea. No problem, the urn just needs to be biodegradable.

The Journey biodegradable urn will work perfectly for a sea burial.

Thank you Princess Cruise Line for the referral.

What good could possibly come out of a drive-by shooting in Carmichael, CA?

A strong 22 year old heart.

The heart of that young man has been beating strong now for seven years in the chest of the recipient; a guy who was my age when he got the gift. The clock was ticking on his end and he was down to a few hours left on his life.

Later, the recipient hopped on an ATV and rode from Santa Monica to New York to raise awareness for organ donation.

Crazy!

Technical Difficulties in the garden. Thank you Mother Nature.

It’s time for Three Beautiful Things:

1. A Sump Pump
2. A Partner to help you Squeegie
3. Sweet sweet sunshine