Your comment about the fake flowers reminded me of the floral design classes I took for a few weeks once. My family has probably done that route for eons...seems I remember plastic ones before silk came along.
I dislike artificial flowers for the most part, too...just threw out a couple of pretty expensive arrangements, just because I was tired of dusting, afraid Winn would graze on them, etc. I still have a few silk orchids in pots that look very realistic...when you see them in the trash, you will know I am done with fake forever.
I think it all boils down to time in most people's minds...they wouldn't take the time you have and will, to show respect the way you do. I think where the artificial flowers fall out of favor, and what botheers me, is seeing poinsettias in summertime, faded and raggedy-looking.
It is like those garden flags that people used to hang on the porch post, and often forgot about for years, until they were tattered and no one could tell what they were meant to celebrate. If you aren't going to keep something like that up, then why start it at all?
I am great at managing the flags and mats at Jenna's house, and tend to keep them aseasonal for the most part there and here. Just when they start to look ratty, they have to go.
As for showing respect to the dearly dparted, it is a personal matter in my mind. I know I talk a lot about Jenna's house;but, that was Mike's father and mother's home, too, and we often talk about his deceased father - who was the best friend I ever had - when we are there, especially. Even hitting a hole in the lane on the way in or out will get us laughing about how he and the kids would putter around in the afternoons and summertime, fixing stuff like that.
