This evening my DH and I went for a walk. As we ambled by a cemetery, we decided to take some time to explore it. My throat is still constricted. Our part of the country was settled during the Oregon Trail migration. The earliest date of death I found was 1845. What stories are hiding between those two sets of numbers which identify each occupant?
There were two small gravestones for two children. Henry lived four years, one month, and three days (all those words were engraved, quite an expense). Basil lived four years, one month. With their similar ages at death, I assumed they were twins. Then I looked closer: Henry died in 1891 and Basil in 1899. My heart groaned for the mother who went through two such infernos.
I find epitaphs interesting. "Gone but not forgotten" is only true for a few generations. I asked my high school students once to name a great-grandparent and I don't think any could. My favorite epitaph seen tonight: "Safe in Jesus." I would like to return to the cemetery and read the book of Ecclesiastes there.
My friend Edie sent me an email today about Nixon's grave. Regardless of how you feel about Nixon, this is such a sad commentary on our culture:
chaperone the PROM! That concept, in itself is hard to wrap your mind around
isn't it? Anyway, I went because of the location . . . The Nixon Library in
Yorba Linda. I figured I should know what it looks like, since I live not that
far away from it. Maybe this summer I will also visit the Reagan Library and I
will be totally up to speed with dead president's libraries in So CA. Anyway,
how strange to have the teen-agers stroll in on a red carpet which half way
covered up the presidential seal on the floor of the entry way. Even stranger
is to have them dance the way they do - which is more like a rehearsal for a
PORN movie - inside the conference area of the library. Stranger yet was when I
was sitting outside, near where they were taking photos, and I suddenly noticed
in front of my bench were the two gravestones for Richard & Patricia Nixon.
I was stunned. Here I sat, in front of a former U.S. president's grave site,
listening to the outdoor Karoke event, watching students get their photos taken
with their dates, with the original farmhouse that Nixon grew up in on one side
of me and the official grave site in front of me. I was sitting next to a gal
whom I've had in class for 2 years. She read the inscription on Richard's
tombstone - it had to do with opening up doors for peace. I commented that I
thought that was Red China. She was not aware. A young male student came
along, talked for awhile with us, and suddenly, he noticed the tombstone for
Richard Nixon. He was stunned also. He asked if Nixon was really under the
ground.
beautiful grounds, seems to be continuing in a manner that lacks the level of
respect you would deem appropriate for someone who served as a World leader for
many years.
I did a little research this morning. There was a dispute between the two Nixon
daughters that lasted almost 5 years. It had to do with HOW the library would
be managed - by the family or by the board. Older men who had some say have now
died off and finally, the two sisters have come to some agreements, via the
courts, which then freed up 19 million that goes towards the library. In the
meantime, the library had to be resourceful in bringing in revenues, hence you
can rent the grounds for weddings, events, etc.
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