R.I.P. messages painted on cars-what do you think?

[tacatcon]

I don't know if this is happening where you live but I've seen a trend now around MA and I'm just curious what others think about this. You know how kids will paint the back window of their cars when it's senior year to say "Congrats class of 2009" or whatever is their message-well I have started to see people doing this for people who have died. Like "RIP Joey-we miss you" kind of thing. I just find it a little tacky. I don't know. I'm not mad so I didn't post this in HUTC. I just can't imagine doing this? To each their own but please family of mine, when I die do not spray paint your car to say RIP Tara!

[XUfan]

About 5 years ago, my husband bought a used pickup truck from a private owner. There was a logo in the back window that said, "In loving memory of...." followed by the name, and date of death of this person's loved one. It wasn't a sticker that could be removed, and it totally creeped me out!

People would stop us in parking lots and ask what it meant. I've seen a few on other cars since then, and it still is creepy to me.

But...to answer your question, I haven't seen it handwritten on windows here....yet!

[Jasmin71]

IF if comes off, I dont see a problem with it. I know of some People who lost their Son in the War and it is on their Backwindow,, his Name dod and that he was a soldier who died in War.

IF its a sticker People should remove them before selling them...

[BringontheWonder]

I have seen both the window paint and the glass etchings. It is a bit out of the norm, but I don't think it's tacky or creepy. Death and reminders of death tend to make us mortals uncomfortable. Eveyone grieves and remembers in their own way. I've seen and heard of what might be considered by many as non-traditional forms of memorailzing such as screen-printed photos on t-shirts, bookmarks with obituaries printed on them, and photos standing beside open caskets. To each his own.

[tacatcon]

I guess I just don't get the "in loving memory of..." being on a car at all. Like you're dedicating the car to the person? I'm not heartless (really I'm not) but I also don't get putting an ad in the paper, as if they're going to read it?? If it's me, I'd maybe make a donation in their name, plant a tree and dedicate it to them. It just seems weird and frivolous to have a decal printed. The handwritten stuff just seems tacky

[crystal12605]

This thread is so funny because I was just thinking about this last night. I think it is a bit strange to advertise this on your car. We all have lost people but for me I don't want my loss to be a constant reminder. I would hate to get in my car and see the sticker and be reminded of that horrible day. But.... I would also hate to get in my car and not feel anything about that sticker because its been there so long. I personally think its a bad decision, for me anyway.

[hellokittygirl]

Originally Posted by tacatcon I guess I just don't get the "in loving memory of..." being on a car at all. Like you're dedicating the car to the person? I'm not heartless (really I'm not) but I also don't get putting an ad in the paper, as if they're going to read it?? If it's me, I'd maybe make a donation in their name, plant a tree and dedicate it to them. It just seems weird and frivolous to have a decal printed. The handwritten stuff just seems tacky

I know of a few incidents in which the victim was killed by a drunk driver and people will wear T-shirts to school or have stickers on their cars memorializing the person. The victim is usually a young person, maybe in high school or college. The RIP on the car could be related to the drunk driving thing. :shrug7:

I've never seen anything handwritten, though.

[gctattoo]

I don't get the messages on cars either, but I'm not sure if I find it tacky or creepy. I did hear of a related thing this week that I do find creepy. DH told me he heard about this service on the radio: a company that will send cards to grandchildren that are "from" their dead grandparents.

Why would you want your kids to get cards from the dead?? And how is that contributing to the grieving and healing process? It makes it seem like they're still around. I guess if the grandparents lived far away and all the kids got was the occasional card when they were alive, then the grandparents could live forever through cards? Weird. And creepy.

[splash]

I personally don't think I would ever do this but since I am not faced with it right now won't say I never will. I do however make a lot of these stickers since I run a print shop. Have done two different ones lately. I have also made the tshirts and things for people upon request. I figure it is their choice. I personally don't see the point in putting flowers on graves as they can't enjoy them once they are dead so I don't figure it is really any different. And in a way it is no different than the "My daughter is a soldier in the U.S. Army" sticker I put on my car. It is a memory thing. Same as the ribbons for military and cancer, etc. I gave up long ago trying to analyze these type of things.

And that is just my silly little thoughts on the matter.

[moxi]

In our area there have been a couple deaths of teenagers. Their high school piers painted their window with RIP and the deceased names. In this case it was just an expression of grief and kind of formed a sense of community of mourners for these kids. I don't know how it made the mourning families feel, hopefully loved.
I have also seen it when local soldiers die. Their names,dates and ranks have been inscribed on the family members windows. My thought, as long as it is not hurtfull, whatever helps you get through the grief, do it.