THE TREE OF LIFE
Happiness is an extremely important facet of life. It eludes the best of us despite our most valiant efforts. Happiness and light can be found anywhere on life's journey, if one looks hard enough and remembers to see things through the eyes of a child.
The tombstone is a winding, wooden slide around a big maple tree in the middle of a forest in my hometown of Springfield, Illinois.
The slide begins high in the branches, and winds around, into the earth, through the dark, to a safe patch of land at the bottom of a hill. This tree is no ordinary tree. It is planted in early life, so family can spend time around the tree throughout their lives. Later, ashes will be sprinkled at its roots.
The tree is inconspicuous and humble. The slide is made from maple tree wood, allowing it to blend into the forest surroundings. The slide will decay with the tree when it breaks down.
The slide on the tree symbolizes the journey of life, through its happy and sad times, through highs and lows there is always a light at the end. The slide is happiness; it is always there if you live your life through the eyes of a child. In the dark there is always a light.