Picnic in the Cemetery

 

 

                                   Picnic in the Cemetery

In the next town over about fifteen minutes from my house there is an old cemetery that covers a long stretch of field. Its full, yet sparse. The feeling is different from upscale cemeteries in heavily populated areas. This one is old and spacious, not cramped in neat rows like city cemeteries. This one is speckled with tomb stones, and the ground rolls up and down in waves.
Catching one of the last sunny days in November I decided to pack a lunch and camera and head over. I had passed the cemetery many times, but I had never been in it. Even though the cemetery is touching the road, there is a strong sense of otherness. A distinct feeling that your in another location, a separate place. The sound of cars seem heavily muted, and it feels quieter than it should being so close to the road. Getting past the initial feeling of unease, the atmosphere was calming. It was still, pondering, a surprisingly good place to be alone with your thoughts.

Outside of my exotic picnic cemeteries in general have always fascinated me. The amount of human history preserved is amazing to see and feel up close. Tragedy and joy stand side by side in remembrance. The feeling is subtle but intense. I walked down the paths, wondering how these people lived back in 1904. Their lives must have been so different from those of today. Whole families were placed together each labeled with their life span, some terribly short. All of these people were preserved, there for anyone to come and remember. It made me stop and appreciate others, to ponder their lives and what they went through.

Their seems to be a stigma around cemeteries, in the sense that most people don't go their without a clear purpose. But I think its the opposite, going without a purpose leaves you open to thought and feeling. It leaves you free to wander, and appreciate the pain some families are still struggling through. I think their is a lot the living can learn from spending time in a cemetery. It is a place of remembrance, a place of stillness, and a place that can have a surprising impact on the heart.

Enigma

Halloween

So I know its a bit late to talk about Halloween, but I wanted to take a step back and savor it before the plunge into the holidays. I have to say Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Its the one day out of the year you can dress as outrageous or ridiculous as you want. Towns turn into weird supernatural dimensions filled with zombies, vampires, and adult sized elmos.  And besides the excellent motivation of receiving mounds of candy, it encourages creativity.  One thing I look forward to every year is seeing the unique costumes others put together. The Halloween mood is just the right blend of fun and spooky.

As a child, my family never did Halloween, there was no costumes, candy or decorations. Regardless, I loved the holiday. My friends would go out trick or treating and I wished I had a way to join. I lived out in the boonies, so there wasn't much of a neighborhood set up for trick or treating. I remember being so excited, admiring all the spooky things that popped up around that time of year. Probably because of my Halloween deprived childhood, I now throw myself into  Halloween with a fever passion to make up for all the time I missed. Trick or treating, costumes, and pumpkin carving, I do it all. This year I carved a record of four pumpkins. Not to mention binge watched my favorite Halloween Tim Burton movies, and put together  a costume. I think its safe to say I went all out.

The point is, make sure to savor those moments. Were often so busy with daily life we don't take the time to appreciate simple, and even childish fun. Were so worried about being ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we forget about the fun family moments Halloween  can bring. Stay spooky!


Enigma