| Bad_Rich_Chic |
11-07-2003 02:26 PM |
I hope this is not too morbid for a Friday.
Quote:
Originally posted by soup sandwich
Being in a cemetary, where it seems rude to laugh out loud, is not conducive to telling funny stories about them and whatnot.
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However, I am of the opinion that cemetaries are very conducive to eating lunch. I highly recommend this if it is convenient. Even if not visiting with your own relatives - go ahead and visit someone else's. Why not?
When I was in univ., I often took lunch at an old grave yard beside my faculty building. I usually ate with Arthur. Arthur (last name illegible, and I never was bothered enough to go to the parish records to check) was a prof. who died in 1824, and had this nice above-ground stone casket in the classic hexagonal shape. It was a bit crumbly looking and I was vaguely worried that old Arthur himself would spill out the bottom when I sat on it one day, but it remained sturdy enough. Anyhow, I'd take my sandwich and perch on Arthur's crypt and watch the birds flit by, and sometimes foxes & badgers &c - the older sections of the cemetary were very grown over, and they only mowed sections in 5 year rotations. I told Arthur about the latest faculty gossip, got a bit of a tan, whatever. I remember Arthur more fondly than some of my classmates, actually. Brought him a big bunch of flowers when I graduated.
Also on this subject, re: burying cremated people, I am reminded of the story behind a favorite headstone. Seems a chap had the good fortune to outlive 4 wives, and he had them all cremated in urns in his house until - disaster struck - the cat knocked all 4 of them down into a big ashy pile. So he buried them, with the headstone:
Stranger pause and shed a tear,
For Mary Jane lies buried here,
Mingled in a most surprising manner
With Susan, Marie and portions of Hannah.
BR(the headstone may be apocryphal, but if so, please, nobody tell me)C
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