As I said in my post about Buffalo Bill's Grave, I went out on a hunt/haunt for cemetery photos for a swapbot exchange.
I know it sounds weird to some individuals, or creepy, but I have always been fascinated by tombstones. It is the last impression of a life - it is how others saw them, what they thought that individual would like or how they thought they'd like to be honored.
Perhaps a part of it is from living in an older part of the country; back in Virginia there are tombs of founding fathers in my hometown, tombs of soldiers all over, and tombs of every age since Europeans first landed. Perhaps a part of it is being introduced to death at such a young age, and having my father's grave to go to. Perhaps a part of it is being a military child where honoring those who died serving is a part of the upbringing. Perhaps a part of it is the rubbings my mom had from the old, more dimensional tombstones on Cape Cod where her parents are buried. I'm not sure what exactly it is, and I'm sure all those reasons are a pieces of a larger reason, but I've always been attracted to cemeteries. I find them peaceful. I find them sad and beautiful all at once. I always want to take care of the forgotten tombstones and I always admire those that are obviously loved and visited.
All of this is very interesting, because I don't actually want to be buried. I'd rather be donated to science when I die... but I guess that is from the days I thought I was going to be a neurosurgeon and I worked on cadavers. I know I know... I gross people out. But seriously, it is so cool. Anyhow, I digress...
So I signed up for this swap. And since Buffalo Bill didn't cut it out for me, I walked to the cemetery down the street and snapped a few more photos:
The cat and horse kinda crack me up. Okay then. I take it those people liked cats and horses.
And I associated Funk with music. The day the music died...
8 comments:
Very interesting post and tombstones ! The last 2 pictures.. it almost looks like the person is holding flowers and angel and lying down on the side way.. sad but beautiful at the same time !
I don't find graveyard creepy, I think they can be very interesting and very beautiful sometimes! Your pictures are great! Im one of your penpals by the way! so hi and I hope to get a letter out this week!Daisy Dayz Home
I love how you've made this grave yard look so beautiful. I'm only creeped out at night, otherwise it can be a very peaceful and reflective place.
The horse IS pretty funny!
I've also been fascinated with tombstones. Some are so cool.
thanks for posting this - you've reminded me that i have some photos i snapped when i took my son to a cemetery. he's only 4 but wanted to go see. so we stopped and walked around, i read tombstones to him, and we're going to go back (when it's cooler) and do rubbings with crayons and newsprint. some parents might be a little put off, but i don't think it's really a bad idea to introduce concepts if your child is curious.
I absolutely love this post. You are SO much like me!
I love cemeteries a lot. I also find them so peaceful and I love how they make me think about the beauty of life. I love reading all the toms and wondering about peoples' lives.
I also love thinking about how one day, me, and all the people I know or have seen or have heard of, are all going to die.
I'm also like you in the sense that I'd rather be donated, rather than my useless body be buried in an expensive coffin. Once I die, I don't want people spending money on my "death", instead they should spend it on their happy lives.
I love wandering cemeteries (much to the dismay of my family). I live in Virginia now (So Cal native) and am intrigued by the many tombstones in various states of age.
Beautiful photographs!
Post a Comment