Best configuration of names for small memorial

November 25, 2014 1:47 PM

I want to purchase a small memorial at Pike Place Market for two relatives who have died recently but I'm severely limited in character space. Please help me choose a message.

Pike Place Market is selling charms as part of a fundraising effort that you can write a message on. They'll be hung from a fence as part of the new entryway to the Market that will be built in a few years.

My cousin (also my best friend) died unexpectedly earlier this year, and her father died unexpectedly a few years ago. I used to go to the Market with her all the time and I want to buy a charm to memorialize them. Their names are Natasha (also went by Tasha) and Mikal.

My character limits are 8 on the first line, 9 on the second, and 8 on the third. The best I've come up with is "Miss you/Natasha/& Mikal", but I thought I'd see if you guys had any ideas. Thanks!

posted by skycrashesdown to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

Take off the "Miss you".

There is no way that you will convey your feelings to the full extent in 8 characters, and that's why your message feels lacking enough that you would seek outside input.

Natasha
&
Mikal
posted by bbqturtle at 1:51 PM on November 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

How internet-person do you want to be about this?

Natasha
&
Mikal <3
posted by jessamyn at 1:54 PM on November 25, 2014

I'm going to disagree with the above posters: I think your idea ('Miss you/Natasha/& Mikel') would be best. The problem with 'Natasha/&/Mikel' is that it makes them sound like a romantic couple, rather than father and daughter: it's too much like the cliché of what people carve in a heart on trees --- 'AB + CD' or some such. Keeping the 'miss you' might help reduce that impression.
posted by easily confused at 2:01 PM on November 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

My loved
Tasha and
Mikal
posted by bearwife at 2:01 PM on November 25, 2014 [3 favorites]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I think your original message is just fine.

Alternatively, you could go with just the initials:


N&M (or N and M)
Always
Missed

N and M
Loved
Forever

N and M
In my
Heart

N and M
Gone
Too Soon
posted by girl flaneur at 2:37 PM on November 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

How about:

Natasha
Miss You
Mikal

Any chance you could could get Natasha and Mikal each a charm? Something like:

Natasha
Beloved
Cousin

Mikal
Beloved
Uncle
posted by Rob Rockets at 6:01 PM on November 25, 2014

.......N
MIKAL
.......TASHA

So that their names interlock, reflecting their relationship (dots to achieve alignment in my browser only).
posted by jamjam at 6:18 PM on November 25, 2014

Is the actual heart character an option?
posted by slidell at 6:53 PM on November 25, 2014

Can you reference a specific memory about Pike Place Market or a feeling somehow, like

Grateful
4 Natasha
+ Mikal

Natasha
GoodTimes
Mikal

Natasha
FreshFish
Mikal

Memories
of Tasha
& Mikal

Sundays
w Natasha
& Mikal
posted by carmicha at 7:14 PM on November 25, 2014 [1 favorite]