Today was Nikki's 25th birthday. We celebrated with lunch at the Marble City Grill followed by cake at our house. It was her favorite, Chocolate icing with yellow cake. Little Max ate a piece and got chocolate icing all over his hands, face and shirt. David loved the cake too. Nikki had asked for a vacuum cleaner so we got her one of those Dyson models that are supposed to give superior suction. Her friend Jamie came down and helped make the day more festive.
Effigies are used in grieving by providing a tangible representation of what has been lost, allowing a mourner to connect with who or what they've lost , which can help with the process of acceptance and emotional expression, particularly when the loss is sudden or traumatic; they can be used to focus grief and memories around a physical likeness, offering a sense of continued presence even in their absence