I've done that, with my dad. In two locations. The first, where he was buried in the town we lived in at the time, and later, when my mom had him moved to his hometown in his family's plot. She's now there with him.
Visiting a grave seems normal, but talking to a painting, I don't know. Of course, I'm talking about loss of parents, which again is 'normal', where loss of a wife or husband or 'life partner', or child for that matter, is not.
So one hangs on to whatever one has.
I saw a documentary on Ryan and Farrah during her last months, and he was there every minute he could be.
Just called Farrah's Story.
But taking the gravestone home to talk to would be a problem.
It does not belong to him.
>>Visiting a grave seems normal, but talking to a painting, I don’t know. Of course, I’m talking about loss of parents, which again is ‘normal’, where loss of a wife or husband or ‘life partner’, or child for that matter, is not.<<
Either way, they are real life symbols that enable our connection. We imbue and impart meaning to these symbols that help us in this way.
It strikes me the University is being pig-headed.
If I was arbitrating this I would simply grant ownership to the University but custody to O’Neal until his death.
Having worked for several Colleges and installed and built giving systems, I can assure you that assets are booked for the long haul.