A picture trip gone...different

[Casch 0]

The other day I noticed the sun getting ready to set, and I decided to go catch it. I tried to get to the hills in time, but I was too late. The sun was gone, all that remained was a slight colored haze not quite brilliant enough for a prize winning photo. I decided to drive out around the country since I was there, it really is beautiful.

The road I was on took me through some dense trees which blocked the near entirety of the remaining sunlight. An occasional shard of light, albeit weak, would grace my windshield. My highbeams were on, there're a lot of deer out there. I'd almost hit one once. The trees fell back as I pulled out of the wooded tunnel, and I passed a familiar drive way. Cami Woodards house, my first "real" girlfriend from 8th grade. Wow, memories.

I took a good look at the old catholic church through my open drivers side window as I rolled by. I didn't feel God.

There was a small ungated cemetary across the road. Something made me stop. I'd never been to a cemetary, never looked at a grave stone up close. Walking through the yard at first I felt nothing. I stood infront of each stone and tried to imagine who the person was. People from the early 1800's were buried there. Husbands and wives. Daughters and sons. Samuel and Mary Clapshaw died 3 years apart. Married 56 years. Reading the inscriptions on these pieces of granite and marble brought a sense of love to my attention.

"Harrison Gibson - Though lost to sight, To memory dear."

Robert and Ruth Vincent carried the same middle initial, E. Robert died at 77, after fighting WWII, and a 54 year marriage. He passed in 2003. Ruth on the other hand had no date of death. Her name is inscribed on the same stone, with a birth date only. I found that touching. So much love, and so much longing to be together. I don't expect it to be long before her date of death appears on that stone. The couples buried together rarely lived more than 3-4 years after the first died.

I observed many more co-burials. Couples that spent the majority of their lives with one another could not be broken by "...until death do us part..." I spent a good hour there, reading grave stones. Learning about life, and death.

I didn't feel God here either. Instead I felt a sense of family, friendship. An overwhelming sense of Love. I felt the word Love deserving of capitalization. What I saw, what I felt in the cemetary that night could not be captured on any camera. While I knew none of the people buried there 6 feet below me, I felt a connection with them. I'll never be afraid of death, not if I have a wealth of friendship and love in my life. Not if I'll be remembered, and missed, when I'm gone.

[mnealtx 0]

Well said....very well said!

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Rebecca 0]

Wow Casch. That was really touching. Thanks.

edited for being retarded. The picture is right there.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[Casch 0]

Thank you both, it was really the most meaningful experience I've had in years. I got something from that hour that I can't quite place, but it's something that will always be with me. Cemetaries aren't at all scary like a lot of people think. It was a peaceful, calm experience. Especially just after sunset with the orange-red light and cool evening air. There're a few more local cemetaries that I'll be visiting soon.

[Rebecca 0]

I've never been afraid of cemetaries - I used to run through one when I was a little girl in Germany. I'd often stop and look at the graves, especially the little ones. Those I paid the most attention to, since they were kids like me when the grave was made.

It felt nice to say hi, and sort of "include" them. Weird maybe, but it made me happy to be there playing around them since they couldn't...

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?