Sometimes it’s tough to just up and write a review. Has nothing to do with “writer’s block.” I’m a professional. Professionals know that being a professional means writing even on the days when they don’t feel like writing at all.

No. Why writing a review can be tough sometimes is because the website in consideration deserves as much time and consideration as clearly was the time put into creating it. That consideration is not always possible for me to give. After all, I do have the entire Internet to cover!

Bluelips.com is one such website deserving that consideration. Is it enough to say:

“Have you been diagnosed with a terminal disease and now need a good laugh over it? Have you ever been deceived by a mortician? Or are you just a big fan of Death? If you’re all that, and you support the fight against breast cancer too, then surf on over to Bluelips.com, and see what you’re missing.”

Bluelips began as way for one woman to deal with the triple whammy of being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and of then finding herself targeted for direct mailing by funeral homes in her area and of losing both her parents.

Imagine being told you have breast cancer. Now imagine a few days later, you begin receiving mailers from funeral homes. That’s exactly what happened to Toni R. (last name withheld by request). She was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 1999. Soon afterward she began receiving mailers at her home from funeral homes, offering their services to her. Coincidence?

Toni didn’t think so. She investigated the matter. Turns out Dallas, TX area hospitals were leaking information about cancer patients to funeral directors. Appalling? Toni thought so. So Toni did what any angry, “incurably alive” cancer patient with a sense of humor would do in 1999. She took to the Internet. Is it enough to say:

“She pierced the veil that shrouds the Funeral Industry. She researched which mortuary practices are good and which ones are abominable. She discovered the existence of autopsy and embalming videotapes used by morticians. She then offered them for sale on Bluelips.com. She angered the more unscrupulous funeral directors.

“We have received a lot threats from angry funeral directors,” says Bluelips business partner Karen H. “But you have to figure that only those with something to hide are going to be angry. The truth is we have many morticians who support our site. Embalming is technically a surgical procedure. Good morticians know it’s important to be informed about this topic….”

Being informed is a hard thing to do in modern society. Death has gone from verdant cemeteries where families once sat on park benches and communed with their departed to a shady industry rife closed doors, whispered deals and burial rate cards.

Toni R. said, “Enough with the gloom already!”

Her site pokes a little fun at Death. In Shakespeare’s day, everyone who could afford one had a human skull within view. Why? To remind them that Death was just a moment away. Nowadays, only the “In crowd” knows of such “memento mori.” Now you can be part of that scene. BlueLips sells “memento mori”. Toni believes that death and grief are as much a part of life as hunger. That it’s how we deal with these topics is a part of who we are. That’s not a Toni R. quote. She actually credits that bit o’wisdom to William Shatner.

Lest we forget, let me remind you that Bluelips offers hope to women with breast cancer. Company profits are tithed to breast cancer research. Bluelips initiated a program to pay for women to get mammograms if they cannot afford the procedure. In the Dallas area, Toni R. will even accompany women.”

Is it enough to say:

“If Bluelips is any indication of character, it is apparent that Toni R. has it, in spades. What began as a way for one woman to cope has grown into a cottage industry. What started as a virtual video bookstore has evolved into a full-fledged online community. Patients, the bereaved, medical personnel, funeral directors and of course, attorneys surf here to share their experience, strength and hope.”

I hope so. Bluelips deserves every word of it.