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Gilbert, an Irvington resident and author of four books, said "Passed and Present" is not about sadness and grieving, but about happiness and remembering.
"When someone we love dies, we usually benefit from being passive recipients of support," she said. "Between the rituals of burial and the recitation of certain prayers, between the wakes and shiva calls, the bereaved, and those who console them, know their role and take their place. But consider the vacuum that happens later. I’ve never met anyone who’s completely stopped thinking about the person he or she loved; our memories flood in and out and wash over us at anticipated and unexpected times.
"Yet for the most part, a year after, five years later, fifteen—the outreach that once provided so much comfort is mostly gone. When it comes to keeping the memory of our loved ones alive, that work is up to us."
Enter her one-of-a-kind guide. Gilbert said "Passed and Present" is packed with 85 innovative ideas for remembering the family and friends we never want to forget.
For the book's launch -- it's out Tuesday, April 12 -- she's inviting readers to join her at a "Memory Bash" to celebrate and remember the people they miss most. Here, folks will discover how to use technology for easy memory-preserving activities; share a story about their loved one; learn how to preserve a loved one’s handwriting, favorite words, and most beloved recipes; and write a note of remembrance to be included in an international commemorative project.
Go to www.allisongilbert.com/ for more information.
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