I've always been fascinated by the things people place on the
graves of loved ones. I'm curious about who the people in the graves are. Why the items mean something to those left
behind and why they might mean something to the deceased? Walking in a cemetery I've seen all kinds of
things. Teddy bears, race cars, toy
dogs, horses, balloons, Christmas trees, bird houses, any number of things
which are a clue to the people buried there.
I was noticing these things as I took my dog for a walk
yesterday in the cemetery a few miles from my house. It's an old cemetery somewhat hidden between
two parkway entrances and across from a large golf course. Usually, I take my dog to the park just down
the road in the other direction from my house, but it was cold close to the
lake and the cemetery is farther off the lake shore and warmer.
I walked slowly up and down the rows of head stones toward
the little wooded area toward the back.
My dog pulled excitedly at the end of his leash, poking his head in
every single nook and lifting his leg at every bush and tree.
I knew some of the people buried there. Some of them I just know by the familiar
names of villages and roads on the stones.
Several of the stones had mementos placed on them. One had a lovely sculpture of a wolf. Another older one had a rhinestone covered
horseshoe necklace left carefully at the base.
The owner had passed away years ago.
I was wondering at it when I saw a headstone with a large Christmas
wreath set against it. I walked over to
investigate. This wreath was at least
four ft. across and sat against the base
of a stone of a boy who died at the age of 5.
The grave wasn't as old as some of the others. Maybe 10 years now that I
think of it. The wreath was fantastic
and beautiful. it was covered in tiny
boxes tied up like presents with shiny paper and bows. A garland of colored lights was wrapped
around it and on a big bow at the bottom was a stuffed Grover from Sesame
Street. The thing that astonished me
though, was the Christopher Radko blown glass ornaments tied around the
wreath. They were large colorful thin
glass painted brightly with not an imperfection on them. There was a snowman, gingerbread house and
Christmas tree all glittering and perfect despite the winter winds and many
fallen trees and broken branches laying around the site. I looked at the grave for a few minutes
wondering about the amount of overwhelming grief the decorators must have felt
or joy at the giving of the decorations, I wasn't sure which.
I moved on, with the urging of my dog, into the wooded area to allow him to explore the many stumps and holes. While he dug and nosed his way through the leaves I called my sister to catch up on family news, mentioning to her some of the things I had found. She loves the historical significance of cemeteries. I told her we should get together here for a walk.
All-in-all, I would say I was there for a few hours, enjoying
the quiet time with my little beagle playing hunter of imaginary prey. Finally, I decided I should make my way back
to the front of the cemetery to the strip where cars are parked in a line along
the road. I decided to stop once again
at the wreath and squatted down to touch and admire each of the beautiful glass
pieces. I stood up and backed away to
turn around and was startled to find a couple standing a few feet behind
me. "oh, excuse me, hi" I said
and started to gather the dogs leash in my hand and turned, embarrassed, to the
front of the cemetery. I was kind of
ashamed to be touching something that didn't belong to me and I was afraid they
thought I was going to harm the wreath, even though I don't know why they would
think I might.
I walked the dog over to the edge of the head-stone line and
headed towards my car. I turned once and
looked quickly at the couple. I noticed
the woman was dressed in a long gray coat and gray hat, She was kind of mousy,
maybe in her 60's, with brown boots and a scarf tied around her neck. She wasn't facing me. She and her husband? walked away from me
towards the back of the cemetery. She
mumbled something quietly but he didn't say anything. Actually, I barely noticed him at all except
that he seemed a little stooped and seemed the blue-collar type of working man.
His coat was more like a woolen hunting jacket but brown and faded in
color. He wore a hat as well. They were a few feet apart and walked slowly
but sort of purposely to the back.
I headed toward the parking lot at the front. I remember I clicked the door lock, looked up
and almost dropped my keys when I saw there wasn't another car on the strip of
gravel that is the parking lot. I looked
at the road. It's too far for someone to take a stroll from the nearest
house. Where did this couple come
from? What were they doing going to the
back of the cemetery where there was a small woods leading to a parkway and
then nothing for quite a ways. I started
to put my dog in the back of my car, and then stopped and took him out and
walked along the front of the cemetery to the eastern edge. No car was parked on the road down that way.
The cemetery has a driveway to the back with a little
turn-around. That's where the newer
graves are although there aren't many of those.
That section faces the parkway and while I was there only one car drove
up that way. The radio was loud and the car was filled with a bunch of
kids. They saw me walking and made one
turn around and left. No car was up that
road now. I stood at the corner of the
cemetery looking across the slope that leads up to the wooded area. I didn't see anyone at all. Purposely,
I took the leash and headed back toward where i had just come from. When I got about halfway I realized they were
no longer there. Where did they go? I should have been able to see them up on the
slope. My dog and I were alone.
I headed back to my car and got in. I texted my sister,
"hey, I'm still at the cemetery looking at that wreath I told you about
and I just saw a couple walk toward the back and disappear. There isn't any car here but mine!"
I think she thought I
was kidding.
