Monday, May 25, 2009

Decoration Day

In case you missed it, Pioneer Woman has a beautiful post about their family cemetery. I cried.

My parents always called this day "Decoration Day", the Ozarks custom of decorating the graves of loved ones. Thanks to my parents' thoughtful remembrance of their ancestors, I have fond memories of several family cemeteries in southeastern Missouri. I've dragged my kids to as many as I could find but it's been a long time since we've been to the farthest and I feel another trek in the not-too-distant future.

Around here, we occasionally visit the graves of departed dear family in country and small town cemeteries. Terry's Dad was laid to rest last week (after cremation) in the largest of these. Years ago when I worked at the nearby hospital, I walked in that cemetery on my lunch hours. The Catholic cemetery is on one side of the main entrance and the Protestant cemetery on the other. Smile. Ironically, I've always preferred the Catholic side. Big smile.

We spent the afternoon yesterday at Terry's sister's house, where his Mom now lives, in a very small town thirty minutes from us. We grilled and ate outside on their roofed back porch. It rained lightly most of the afternoon and we didn't mind a bit. We told stories about his Dad and other departed family and enjoyed being together. Luke was the only young'un with us and he heard some R-rated family stories for the first time.

I realized in church yesterday I will be away from home the next four Sundays. Terry and I are traveling to a family wedding weekend in Memphis this Friday. I will be going to St. Louis to stay with my Dad for almost two weeks after that, while my stepmom attends her grandson's graduation in California. Then after a brief few days at home, Terry and I will be going to Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles for a week, for a business conference and visit to my stepdaughter Jennifer's new house. Whew! For this homebody, that schedule will be a bit of a challenge but I know it will bring countless opportunities to see new things, hear new stories, face new sacrificial moments. God is good.

What are your summer plans?

Blessings,

Sandy
Posted by Sandy C. at 5/25/2009

2 comments:

magistramater said...

I had missed the PW private cemetery post. Thank you for highlighting it. How cool is that?

I hope your travels are blessed. Perhaps your dad will tell more stories?

Besides being involved in three weddings, my summer plan is to work full time...meh. I am praying that I will adjust and learn how to balance this new life. I've already dealt with working during the first day of my cycle (which is fraught with pain and potential humiliation); tomorrow I learn how to host dinner/prayer for 20 at 6:30 when I get off at 5:00 (Collin will stick a ham in the crock pot when he leaves for work, easy pasta and pesto, dessert made tonight, house cleaned tonight).

Oh, I'm talking too much.

But I hope in the midst to sneak up to Seattle and see my little Noah some weekend.

And we're headed to Omaha in August (doesn't that sound ominous?) for Curt's uncles 80th birthday party.

Love you,

Carol

PS - I'm trying to imagine what kind of R-rated family stories you'd be hearing. ;)

8:41 PM
Sandy said...

Oh, Carol, you could talk all day and it would not be too much for me. :0

Yes, Omaha in August could be a bit ominous. Humid, I would imagine. It's good for the corn.

The R-rated family stories involve heavy drinking and ensuing violent outbursts. Thankfully, the family was not drinking at all by the time I came along. (Well, I did witness one family member's last few years before AA, but that person lived away from us and I only saw a few incidents). I'd heard most of the stories several times but it was the first time Terry and his sister had compared notes on a couple of the incidents. We are so thankful our kids grew up without knowing or seeing any of that behavior. God is good.

9:16 PM

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