Author Archives: Debra L. Stang (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“I was a little taken aback when I got my receipt from the funeral parlor. On the bottom of the receipt, after the bill, it read, ‘Thank you. Please come again.'”

- Unknown
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Death Cleaning: A Thoughtful Act for Family and Friends

It's much kinder to handle clutter before you die rather than leaving it to your loved ones after you're gone

In Sweden, the people have an expression — “dostadning.” The word translates to the words death and cleaning, or death cleaning for short. It refers to the practice of middle-aged and elderly people cleaning out their homes so that their … Continue reading

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“To you who have never died I say: Welcome to the world!”

- Clive Barker
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“Sonnet 71” by Shakespeare

The works of William Shakespeare often have disguised or ironic meanings

Most people know Shakespeare for his plays, such as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Macbeth” and “Hamlet.” He was also, however, a gifted poet, penning 154 sonnets. In 1609, he wrote “Sonnet 71.” “Sonnet 71” was part of a series of poems … Continue reading

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Maternal Mortality on the Increase in the United States

Why are women in the U.S. dying during and after pregnancy?

The past 20 years in the United States have shown a disturbing trend for pregnant women. While in other parts of the world, even in some developing countries, maternal mortality has been on the decline, in the United States it … Continue reading

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“The Ballad of Rodger Young” Shares the Story of a Fallen Hero

Rodger Young attacked a machine gun nest to protect his comrades

“The Ballad of Rodger Young” was released as a single in 1945. It tells the story of a brave young infantryman who charged a Japanese gun nest, drawing fire so that his comrades could escape. Although the Army usually does … Continue reading

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