"No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat."

That's always been one of my favorite quotes, well, because it's true. Now that I've experienced the loss of my cat Gracie, it has become even more true.

Our sweet little Gracie Lou passed away last weekend, on February 20th. She was alive in the bed next to me when we went to sleep that night, and gone by the time the sun came up. Even though she had been declining for several months, and had been actively dying over the past several days, it was still a sad realization to wake up to.

I've had Gracie in my life since I was 12, and I'm 32 now...so to say I'm heartbroken is a bit of an understatement. It's been a hard few weeks.

She was not in pain, thankfully. She would still purr when we pet her. We were in the middle of that crazy historic snow  storm during all of this, and I'm so thankful that we never lost power so that we could keep her comfortable at home.

Since I'm a eulogy writer and all, I thought it was appropriate to write her a little piece up now that I've had a little bit to think about it. She had a long and adventurous life for sure.

My dad is the one who rescued her way back then. She was just a little kitten, it was a rainy October night in 2001, and he was on his way home from his Judo lesson. He spotted her on that back road bridge in Waxahachie, cold and shivering, pulled over and picked her up. She was the only kitty around, no others, just a tiny, beautiful, black and white kitten.

When he brought her home, I pretty much claimed her as mine, lol. I named her Gracie Lou after "Miss Congeniality" (the big movie back then). She had lost her voice from crying so much, who knows how long she had been alone out there. We fed and watered her and later that night, I put her in my bed… I remember she pooped all over one of my blankets - it became hers after that!

I like to think she had a fulfilled life for a cat. She was an outside girl for a little while, but mostly she was indoors, especially once she became older. She’s had a litter of beautiful kittens, survived some close calls and a couple surgeries, and had been by my side through thick and thin, through my teenage years and then my twenties, and beyond.

My mom once told me that pets stay with us for as long as we need them…well, I must have needed Gracie a long time. This next chapter without her is going to take some getting used to. My whole family loved her very much..she was kind of this fixture that was always there, and we will all miss her.  I’m so thankful we can lay her to rest in the town she came from, and that she’ll always be close by <3

Gracie was 19 years old.

We love you baby girl, and we always will.

-Aubrey

My sister Cassie is a big "Animal Crossing" fan and has been begging me for months (years?) to try out the game. Between raising my toddler, wifey duties, running a business and just life in general, I always told her that I'd love to BUT I just don't have any time for video games right now!

Flash forward to 2020-2021-pandemic-quarantine-life and I finally gave "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" (the latest edition of the game) a whirl. And OMG am I on the bandwagon or what. My feet ain't even dangling off the edge.

It's safe to say I'm pretty much obsessed with ACNH right now.

I can see why Cassie loves it because I love it too, now. If you don't know anything at all about ACNH (like that was me just two months ago), here's a little gist: you create a character that represents you. You start and build a life on a deserted island that you get to name and become representative of. The more you build and develop your island, the more visitors you'll get. The goal is to expand your island to the point that the legendary K.K. (this singing, guitar-playing doggo) will want to accept an invite to perform a concert there. There are tons of customization options available in ACNH, and the entire game play is seriously relaxing. Many people say that it helps with their anxiety and depression levels, too, and I'm not surprised.

I mentioned customization - in the game, you can create almost any type of island with any theme or style you want. The other day I read a post about people who customize their island with cemeteries, whether as a decoration during Halloween time or as a permanent fixture.

And it got me thinking.

In the game, you can set your real life friends who are also on "Animal Crossing" as your "best friends" in the game. This means, for one thing, that you can visit one another's island, whether in real time or via "dreaming" with Luna (I'm not going to explain everything now - you'll have to try it out to find it out!) as long as you have a dream code.

With the cemeteries post, I started to think about how it would be if you were to unfortunately have a friend in real life, who was also your "best friend" in "Animal Crossing," pass away.

What would it feel like to visit their island in "dream" form, after the fact? In dream form, by the way, even if your friend is not online at the moment, you're able to see their character walking around the island, and you'll occasionally bump into them. Seemingly alive as can be, but only virtually and only in the game. What is the emotion associated with this? Is there a benefit or is this a detrimental element to this sort of experience? Would it be depressing? Macabre? Or would it be comforting?

Of course, I'm just an armchair psychologist. My chair probably doesn't even have arms if I'm being honest. But what do you think?

Just like Facebook has created ways to memorialize friends' profiles who have passed on, I think that it could be therapeutic, in a way, to create cemeteries in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" for those we know and love, whether in real life or for our "best friends" in Animal Crossing. And I think it could be comforting, to a certain degree, to bump into these friends in a "dream" experience during game play. Just as they were (and dressed just as they were) the last time they logged in to the game.

You aren't going to know exactly what I'm talking about unless you get the game yourself on your Switch or watch some videos on it (I recommend JackSepticEye's series on it, he's hilarious). But I think you get the general idea! Let me know what you think about all of this in the comments below...it's fairly new phenomena that's only going to become more commonplace.

-Aubrey

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM EULOGIES BY AUBREY

It goes without saying, but 2020 was one for the books, in the worst possible way. If you were someone who lost a loved one this year, you were undoubtedly especially affected.

In 2020, I was honored to write eulogies for several families who lost loved ones during the pandemic. I was also privileged to pen eulogies for beloved members of my own family. Grieving was experienced in unprecedented ways during 2020. COVID made it harder for many families to come together to grieve, due to funeral home restrictions or health reasons. Still others were drawn to the idea of home funerals and/or green burial practices.

Looking to the bright side - Eulogies by Aubrey was blessed to have grown quite a lot in 2020, with this being the second year we've been in operation. Earlier this year we made our way (finally!) to the first page of Google, a major business goal I had set from the beginning. Now that I'm able to reach more people who are in need of a eulogy writer, I look forward to serving more families in the future, in my own community and beyond. And more than anything, I want to thank you for supporting my small business and for allowing me to support you in your time of need.

It's no secret that the holidays bring about all kinds of emotions and feelings for many people. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, whether that loss was recent or occurred years ago, Christmas and New Year's have a pesky way of making that loss seem fresh all over again. If you are holding sadness and longing in your heart over the loss of your loved one, I would like to end this little blog with a quote just for you, from one of my favorite writers of all time, Anne Frank:

"What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet."

She was wise beyond her years.

And believe it or not right now, you have much to look forward to...you just have to keep looking forward.

From my family to yours, I wish you a safe, peaceful and hopeful New Year 2021.

-Aubrey

Hello friends and neighbors. We are in the midst of the holidays now, so I just wanted to drop a line and remind you that Eulogies by Aubrey is open on Christmas Day as well as New Year's.

In fact, my eulogy writing service operates 24/7/365. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, have been tasked with writing their eulogy and need help getting all your thoughts organized, I am more than honored to assist you. Please let me know how I can help you in a message here, and I will be in touch with you shortly.

You can also check out my Eulogy Writing Service page and FAQ page for additional helpful information.

I know you write eulogies, but I need to create my loved one's obituary as well and don't know where to start. Can you help with that too?

I've gotten this question a few times, and the answer is...yes, absolutely! Actually, I offer a complimentary obit, upon request, with each eulogy order. No extra charges. So let that stress fall off your shoulders right now.

Just let me know in your initial contact email, or upon completing your eulogy order form, that you would also like an obit written. I may have a few additional basic questions I will need to ask you in order to complete your loved one's obit, but chances are I will have all info needed from the eulogy order form.

Don't let the stress of planning for your loved one's funeral coincide with the stress of getting their eulogy written as well as their obit. I'm here, and I'm more than honored, to help you out.

-Aubrey

How much do you charge for a eulogy, and are there any additional fees?
 
I charge a one-time fee of $225 for an approximately 1000(plus)-word eulogy. There are no additional fees and any revisions you require are included in this charge.
 
How do I pay and when?
 
I am able to accept all major cards as well as PayPal. I do request payment before I begin work on your eulogy, simply to protect against those few who would take advantage of the reverse process.
 
How long will it take for me to speak my eulogy?
 
Depending on how much information you provide, your finished eulogy will contain approximately 1000 words and should generally take between six and eight minutes to deliver. If you would prefer a longer or shorter eulogy, please let me know.

How long will it take for you to finish my eulogy?
 
I will work to complete your order and have it sent back to you within 48 hours. If you need it sooner or within a certain time frame, please let me know.
 
How will you get my completed eulogy to me?
 
I will send your eulogy to the email address that you provide me on the order form. I will send it as a message and also as an attachment so that you may print/utilize it at your convenience. If you do not receive your eulogy within 48 hours, please check your spam folder. It will be sent from eulogiesbyaubrey@gmail.com.

 Can I see one of your writing samples?
 
Yes. Click here to be taken to my Eulogy Examples page.

I've already written out parts of my eulogy, but need help putting it all together and making it sound good. Can you help with that?

Absolutely! Many of my clients already have all of their thoughts on paper and simply need me to make it "speech" worthy. If this is you, send me what you have, and I'll take it from there.

My loved one has not yet passed away, but it is imminent. I'm thinking of going ahead and starting the brainstorming process for their eulogy. Can you help?

Yes. It's actually a fairly common - and even smart, I would say - move to try and get your thoughts down (things that you would like represented in your eulogy) ahead of your loved one's passing. Just let me know if this is your situation, and I am more than willing to assist you every step of the way.

I have suffered the loss of a child. Are you still able to help?

Yes. Please note that the form on my Order page is generally for adult loss. If you have suffered miscarriage, infant or child loss, please let me know in a message here. I have a special eulogy order form for you that I will send to you.

I recently lost my pet and plan to hold a service in their memory. Would you be willing to write a eulogy for them?
 
I would be honored. Our pets are our family and losing any one of them would be the same as losing a family member. Let me know in a message here, and I will send you a separate order form.

At this time I cannot bring myself to fill out the eulogy order form. Can you still help?
 
Absolutely... I understand that there are times when grief knows no words. There is an art to writing quality work with little information, and I'm confident in my ability to do so. Fill out what you can of the order form, send it to me and I will let you know if any additional information is needed. Or if you are more comfortable, email me at eulogiesbyaubrey@gmail.com. If you prefer to speak with me by phone, please leave your number in your email and I will contact you as soon as possible.

I am not able to pay your fee right now, but I still need help with a eulogy. What can I do?

I am very aware that not everyone has the means to hire a professional writer to assist them with their eulogy, or even family or friends who are able to help. But I believe that every loved one who has passed on deserves a quality eulogy. So I offer anyone who needs it a free eulogy template. Click here for more information. If you have questions or are in need of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
What are your hours of operation?
 
I am available 24/7/365*. For nighttime orders and email inquiries, please expect a response from me no later than the very next morning.

*It is rare, but sometimes due to personal time constraints, I will need to step away from business for a short time. During these times, there will be a pop-up on my website letting you know, and you will still be able to contact me with any questions or concerns you have.
 
Can I request a refund?
 
I cannot provide a refund for a completed eulogy. However, if you have just paid and have decided not to use Eulogies by Aubrey, and in the case I have not already begun extensive work on your order, I would be happy to provide you with a full refund, no questions asked.

Remember to keep an eye on my FAQ page for updates as they appear. If you ever have any other questions for me, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am available 24/7/365.

-Aubrey

I am a wife, mother and Christ follower with dual passions for writing and death care. I have years of professional writing and editing experience, and have worked in both corporate and family-owned funeral homes in the DFW area. I am married to the love of my life, Austin, and together we share a beautiful daughter.

In 2017, I graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, where I studied funeral directing, embalming and restorative art, counseling, grief psychology, composition and public speaking as it relates to funeral service. I hold certifications in cremation arrangement and operation (ICCFA), as well as burial at sea (NEBAS), and am also a guest writer for US Urns Online.

For any questions or thoughts you may have, feel free to reach out to me today.

-Aubrey

Our website recently underwent a little construction!

When navigating the new style of our eulogy service website, Eulogies by Aubrey, you'll notice that many things remain the same as they always have. The overall look and layout hasn't really changed that much. The main changes we've made are almost unnoticeable, but significant, all in an attempt to make the site more personal, personable, and user- friendly for those who are seeking help writing a eulogy for a loved one.

We've prioritized pages and tabs to minimize disarray and maximize user-ability, enhanced our Eulogy Resources page, updated links throughout our blog and made the overall interface easier for visitors to navigate and find what they need. Perhaps most importantly, we've updated our SEO in an effort to reach more of the people who really need our help.

So check it out and let us know what you think! We have already received comments and emails offering suggestions and other helpful info...so please feel free to share any tips and ideas that you have as well. Eulogies by Aubrey is still a young, growing business and we appreciate our readers' comments.

Fears over Coronavirus, implementation of social distancing, and other measures being put into place to combat further spread of the virus are affecting the funeral industry in unprecedented ways. While it may seem that everything is being closed, cancelled, or postponed (even funeral services), rest assured that Eulogies by Aubrey will remain open 24/7 in an effort to help in any way we can. We are able to do so by operating entirely online/by phone.

Are you trying to plan a funeral in the middle of COVID-19? Are you wanting to complete a eulogy for your loved one but are running low on time or energy? I want to help. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Note: If during these uncertain times you are experiencing financial hardship, but you are still needing assistance writing a eulogy for your loved one, do not hesitate to reach out with your concerns. I believe that every loved one deserves a quality eulogy, no matter the circumstance, and I am here to help make that happen.

-Aubrey

Fears over Coronavirus, implementation of social distancing, and other measures being put into place to combat further spread of the virus are affecting the funeral industry in unprecedented ways. While it may seem that everything is being closed, cancelled, or postponed (even funeral services), rest assured that Eulogies by Aubrey will remain open 24/7 in an effort to help in any way we can. We are able to do so by operating entirely online/by phone.

Are you trying to plan a funeral in the middle of COVID-19? Are you wanting to complete a eulogy for your loved one but are running low on time or energy? I want to help. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Note: If during these uncertain times you are experiencing financial hardship, but you are still needing assistance writing a eulogy for your loved one, do not hesitate to reach out with your concerns. I believe that every loved one deserves a quality eulogy, no matter the circumstance, and I am here to help make that happen.

Please take care,
Aubrey Bauer

BEGINNINGS
Born in 1945 and raised in the Bronx, New York, Lawrence Gordon Tesler felt his calling in the yet budding field of computer science while still a student in high school. After impressing a teacher with a complicated prime number algorithm, he enrolled in a computer class at Columbia University, where he essentially taught himself computer programming. Upon graduation from Stanford University in 1965, he worked various programming jobs before landing a spot with the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. It was there at PARC that he was first began work on the Gypsy Word Processor, and also first began contemplating ideas on what the future of human-computer interaction would look like.

COPY & PASTE REVOLUTION
While at PARC- the same place that introduced the world to the computer mouse- Larry Tesler came up with an idea that would revolutionize computer programming (and everyday work and play for the layperson). That idea was Cut, Copy & Paste. Such a simple notion, but one of the many "little" things he developed to ensure easy user interface for all...and not just those who were formally educated in computer science. This "counterculture" idea was unheard of back in the '60s, but it was something that he would advocate for for the rest of his life.

NO MODES
To further develop a seamless user experience, Tesler also promoted and actively worked on the idea of a "modeless" computer system. Basically, he felt that the everyday user shouldn't have to switch in between modes or functions depending on what they were doing while computing. He was so passionate about modeless computing, in fact, that his official website is nomodes.com, as is his Twitter handle and even a license plate on his car at one point.

FURTHER WORK
After PARC, Tesler went on to work with Apple at the request of Steve Jobs. There he helped to develop many pioneering software programs, including Macintosh and QuickTime. Following his 17-year tenure there, he moved on to several other high-profile companies- Yahoo, Amazon and Stagecast.

DEATH
On February 16th, 2020, at the age of 74, Larry Tesler passed away at his home in San Fransisco. There is not very much information available surrounding his cause of death, nor whether he was buried or cremated. But his legacy lives on in the computer innovations that he pushed to bring to you and me.

You can learn more about Larry Tesler's life's works here.

-Aubrey