Seventh Pup Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 So I realize this might seem like a slightly morbid topic. However I live right next to a non denominational cemetery, where I walk everyday, and one of the things I really enjoy about it is reading the headstones. While many of the tombstones have only name and dates, and sometimes a brief "rest in peace", many have other saying on them as well that rage from the touching, to the whimsical. I think the most heartbreaking one is attached to the grave of a 14 year old girl who died in an accident it reads "If Love could have saved you, You would have lived forever". The girl died over 10 years ago but there is always fresh presents and flowers on the grave. One of my favorite passages someone put on their headstone is from the Lord of the Rings "Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or secret gate, And though I oft have to pass by, I day will come at last when I, Shall take the hidden path that runs, West of the Moon and East of the Sun". On the other side of things a lot of headstones have the person's name and then under it have their profession. So there is a lot of "John Smith- Woodman", "John Smith- Farmer" my favorite is someone is "John Smith- Plumber". Most often however you have listed the name of the relationship they where to the people in their family (and presumably to the people who buried them). So there are a lot of "John Smith- Brother", "John Smith-Husband and Father". I do feel like this can go horribly wrong however as in one case in there is simply a stone that reads "MOTHER 1945" What was this woman's name???? My favorite of these however is a tombstone that read Bruce Mcsomethingorother "He was a good man, and a kind father", He died in the 1960's so he lived in a time when a father did not have to be "kind". That the kindness is what those who buried him think of I feel like speaks highly of the man. Personally when I go I want to be cremated and scattered on a mountain, no marker to remember me by. But if I had to have a headstone I would speak of kindness, and love. Or else have the poem by Mary Frye "Do not Stand by My Grave and Weep". What would you put on you headstone if you could choose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tears of Lys Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 When my mom-in-law died she was buried next to her husband, who had died many years previous. She and her husband had enjoyed music tremendously. He was a gifted musician and was in a band, and she loved to dance. According to my husband, they fought a lot, but they both loved music.When she passed on, the question came up of what, if anything else besides her name, date of death, etc., should be put on the headstone. I suggested musical notes between their names, and so that's what was chosen.I sometimes wonder if people who see it in years to come will understand.As for me, I want to be cremated too. Maybe I'll have "tip jar" engraved on my cremation ashes urn. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyenon15 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 "Well, you got your wish. I'm dead" I used to live by a really old church and did the same as you. This one was so old it had graves from late 1700s. It was cool to see the evolution of tombstones from crude hand carved slabs or sticks into elaborate art marble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli Fury Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 None for me, just dig a hole and dump me in it, no need for a box to put me in or a headstone, I'm biodegradable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manhole Eunuchsbane Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 My favorite has always been a supposed grave in Boothill Cemetary in Tombstone Arizona... Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a .44, no Les, no more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Flashheart Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I live very close to where H.P. Lovecraft is buried. His tombstone reads "I am Providence" and I've always thought that was pretty badass. I also took a selfie with the tombstone and was told that is in bad taste. No feeling were hurt. I used it as a FB profile picture for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all swedes are racist Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I'd prefer to be taxidermied and posed in a menacing attitude along these lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyenon15 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 My favorite has always been a supposed grave in Boothill Cemetary in Tombstone Arizona... Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a .44, no Les, no more. Wasn't that in the movie Tombstone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manhole Eunuchsbane Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Wasn't that in the movie Tombstone I believe so, but it is supposedly real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tears of Lys Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I'd prefer to be taxidermied and posed in a menacing attitude along these linesLarson was great, was/isn't he? No one comes close to him IMO./threadjack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I love looking at old cemetaries. There is so much history in them; you can trace whole families. And there's so much information on the tombstones...I don't think it's cryptic at all. Some of those cemetaries are very peaceful places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitac Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I really appreciate people who contribute to "Find a Grave." Those people photograph graves and upload their information into a database. I found some of my husband's family members' burial sites that way. They work in conjunction with Ancestry.com. We visited a beautiful prairie cemetery in eastern Washington. It had around thirty stones. One of husband's great great uncles had passed in his early thirties. It said: "You left us too soon." It was sad but the cemetery's location was stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seventh Pup Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 The cemetery by my house is very nice. It's the closest area with trees, and open fields. It feels like going to a park, especially the flowering trees are in bloom. A falcon, and a murder of crows live there, not to mention about a hundred squirrels. It's pretty small, but very nice. It feels peaceful, and I enjoy feeling like I am surrounded by history. I also make up stories about the people named on the head stones for my son as we walk, and he enjoys that. (Things like "That's Minerva Ruffner she invented candy. That's Orville Header he's brother was named Andy." ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tears of Lys Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I learned how to drive in part in a cemetery. No one around to kill, I guess. The rest of my driving experience took place on Belle Isle, an island just outside of Detroit. Speed limit 25, I think.Cemeteries are very peaceful and beautiful places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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