ahhh... that is a GREAT point - symbolism and memory. Even elephants will delicately touch the bones of another elephant... it's moving to watch if you haven't seen a video of that btw.

mementos are an excellent example of a way most people use symbolism... and to be honest, i think our value placed on our photos is another. A photo is not a person or an event but in our hearts and minds it is. We hold our photos as our most precious possessions.... but they are just symbols... nothing is truly lost or gained by having or not having them...

i like to look at my tattoos as what i have done to make this "home" my own. My body was left up to me to decorate as i choose... i added some temporary items - like hair colour and piercings, and i added some more permanent elements that make this residence my own.