(In the old graveyard. Trough Creek State Park, PA. December 2007. © Robin)
Winter is on my head but eternal spring is in my heart. The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the world to come. For half a century I have been writing my thoughts in prose and verse; but I feel that I have not said one-thousandth part of what is in me. When I have gone down to the grave I shall have ended my life’s work; but another day will begin the next morning. Life closes in the twilight but opens with the dawn.
~ Victor Hugo
We’re getting near the end of another calendar year, and it looks like I’m not the only one with endings and beginnings on the mind:
- Stevo is reflecting on times past and posting cuteness without resorting to photos of cats. (Good for you, Stevo!)
- Ron is looking at ends, while throwing a few aural worms into the mix.
- Truddle is showing off a beautiful almost-beginning as well as briefly reflecting on the past year.
- Bibliomom is listing her way through a look back at 2007 in the first of a three-part series.
- Showing off her loot, Amuirin also shares with us how she started collecting chess sets.
- QuoinMonkey at redravine is making gratitude lists instead of resolutions (wonderful idea!).
- Paul at Cafe Philos tells a story about authentic giving. We should all be so lucky as to have someone like Becky in our lives.
There are more out there I should be looking at and listing, but my granddaughter is here and it’s time for me to go play before I make a complete mess of this.
What an amazing gravestone,
and what a great list to read through. Happy New Year, R.!
Thanks, Am. Happy New Year to you, too! (A little early.)
Quite different Robin… Does that say 1896?
R(etc…)
Happy New Year, Robin. Love the photograph of the gravestone. Reminds me of a spiral or the face of the sun. That looks like a pretty cool park to visit in PA. I’ll have to make a note of it. Have fun playing with your granddaughter. You deserve it. All good things to you in the coming year. Thanks for mentioning the Gratitude List. I’ll be making mine at a gathering tonight. One thing on it will be our blogging community.
R(etc…): 1895. The entire graveyard was quite different from what I’m used to seeing in the U.S. There’s one on private property in West Virginia that’s somewhat similar, but more fun to visit because if you know the guy that lives on top of that mountain, you get yourself a free jar of some really smooth moonshine.
QM: Enjoy your gathering.
There was much more to the park than we were able to see that day (due to the icy conditions and the phone call about my mother having had a heart attack). I’m hoping to go back in the spring and explore some more.
Amazing photo, Robin. There’s a very large graveyard in Hong Kong I want to visit. I’ll have to find the time. I envy your visit to this place.
Happy New Year! The snow falling over the image of the Gravestone is really sobering. I’ve been wanting to put on boots and go out to my Moms but the snow is just way deep.
Happy New Year, Robin! That’s a great winter scene. It almost makes me wonder about the “life” of that headstone: How many winters it’s seen, and how many its yet to see. Thank you for the link!
Thanks, Stevo.
Happy New Year, Bibliomom & Paul!
Very interesting. I sometimes read the names on headstones and wonder who that person was and what they did in life. When graves seem to be abandoned or neglected, I wonder what kind of family they had/have to leave them alone like that. My mind wanders and I imagine entire scenarios. I was at a cemetery a week or so ago. I went to visit my brother. I don’t always take flowers because I live far from there (more than a two hour drive) and sometimes I don’t know that I will be going. But when I have the opportunity, I go and I sit beside his grave and I talk to him. I tell him what I am feeling inside my heart that no one knows. I tell him how much I miss him and how much I wish he were with us now. Then I remember that, to others, it probably looks as if his grave is abandoned and that he is forgotten. I know that’s not true. I know that we won’t ever forget him.
I will read through the blogs you linked to, the ones I haven’t already read, that is. I’m sure you are sending me to good places to read wonderful things. I’ll think of you when I’m there.
Corina: I do that, too (read the names and wonder who the person was, etc.). I sometimes invent stories about the person based on their gravestones.
I’m sorry that you have to visit a grave to talk with your brother, but it’s good that you have him to talk and open up to.