This long weekend is Memorial Day here in the States. It’s when we take time to remember the men and women that gave their lives so that we could be free. It’s also a time where families tend to the grave sites of their loved ones. So yesterday my husband and I took his aunt and uncle around to all his family plots. It was a daylong event, one you might think would be overwhelmingly sad. Instead it was a flower filled day, complete with family stories, laughter and memories. We were glad to be together, happy to remember those who weren’t there with us, to tell familiar tales once again as we watered flowers, planted geraniums and in general just said “Hi!” to each and every one of them. 
Today I went to visit some of my own relatives in their final resting places. I visited my grandparents, and my uncles. I found all the cemeteries peaceful, beautiful places. I read many other headstones as I wandered, figuring out stories, wondering about lives.
It’s good to take the time to remember. And to say thanks. 
I think cemeteries are beautiful, and filled with such history. I love reading headstones, and making up stories about what sort of a life the person must have led.
There is one headstone at our local cemetery that looks like a petrified tree stump. Why I wonder? Was the man a lumberjack? That one gets me every time!
What a lovely post. I do like visiting cemetaries/church yards and taking the time to remember those that have ‘come before’.
There is often something soothing about cemeteries… and you have to wonder about the people that once were and now live only in memories. I think the hardest are the ones that you see are the “tragically taken” and they were only 5 or 10 or 16 year old etc……and you have to wonder at what potential the world missed out on, what devastation it caused the family, how it happened, why it happened.
Yes I always wonder about the young ones too. Though as I get older my definition of “young” seems to get older as well!
Happy Memorial Day, Dawn and Katie. That’s a beautiful post. Very touching!
Josh and Jessie