It hasn’t changed a bit, this old cemetery. Until two years ago when I visited it last, it had been over 20 years since I’d seen it. I remembered several of the individual headstones like I had just been there the day before. It’s weird, the things our brains choose to remember and hold on to. Growing up, I spent quite a bit of time here as my grandparents lived nearby. In fact, one of my earliest childhood memories is of an uncle of mine giving me a ride through this cemetery on a four-wheeler, and coming back with a collection of pine cones. I’m sure it wasn’t very deep back then, but I remember strolling through this grass and over the hill… and pondering life… and probably death. I don’t remember my reasons for enjoying my time there so much, but I do recall having general conversations with any spirit wanting to listen. I also recall my Bama (grandma) packing a lunch for me on a few occasions. One thing is for sure. When I think about a cemetery, or when I’m reading of a fictional graveyard, it is always this beautiful place that ends up being the setting in my mind.
Other recent cemetery photography posts:
The Iron Fence and the Family Plot
Cemetery of Immaculate Conception of Dardenne, Missouri
Francis Howell Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri
Perfectly Lonely and Snowy City of Souls – Return to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis
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May 27th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Growing up, my mom would take me for walks in cemeteries too. I found them peaceful and beautiful. As I entered my teens, I began making charcoal etchings when I found a stone particularly interesting. I would think about the lives of the people who were laid to rest and their history. When I became a parent, I took my children as they grew up. It was a place of meditation for me and my daughters loved our trips.
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:31 am
Etching… like rubbings? I hear so much about rubbings and it’s something I’ve never tried.
May 28th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Patrick,
Hi ya! I used to sit in cemeteries spring afternoons, on my way home from school, in eighth grade. It was peaceful there and I used to drink a soda pop and smoke my cigarettes. I would feed the ducks bread (I’ve heard we should do this), sing and sometimes have general bits of conversations with whomever could hear. Mostly I sang and sometimes I would ride my bicycle on the paved paths. I would be respectful and do my best not to walk on the graves.
May 28th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
should not feed bread to the ducks. Correction.
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:33 am
I’ve always heard that too.
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:33 am
We would have been great cemetery buds… but I probably would have tattled on you for the cigs. 😉
June 1st, 2014 at 3:37 am
Beautiful photographs, Patrick.
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Thank you, Jayne. 🙂 And thanks for all of the great historical info on Facebook! 🙂
June 3rd, 2014 at 8:45 am
You take such beautiful photos, Patrick. I never knew pics of tombstones could be so breathtaking. 🙂
June 4th, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Thank you thank you… 🙂