Grave Humor

Part Two

In light of the present situation on Wall St. I have been inspired by a stock broker to consider having this phrase on my marker:

"I'm in it for the long haul"

Another adventure awaits me! Tomorrow, my husband and I depart for a motoring trip to New England. I am so exited about finding some great old cemetaries in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. I 'll be packing my rubbing supplies, the digital camrera, and a spare battery. This is going to be great! See you all next week! Stay warm.

Angels

It was so exhilarating! Our very first rubbings! The Rav4 was packed to the hilt with all our necessaries. Newspaper print tablets, artist's charcoal, blue painter's tape, old but clean rags, paper towels, and two very large cup of coffee. We went to the Russian cemetary about 15 miles due west of the homeland.

Typically, we jumped right in...............found some great grave markers and started rubbing. We soon found out that rubbings are a little tricky to say the least. The artist's charcoal is very easily broken, it makes quite a bloody mess and gets all over everything, one should never wear white or light colored clothing, and pick a cemetary with a bathroom. Ok, its a place for "those gone but not forgotten: but they need to add bathrooms for "those of us that are still here and gotta go".

My partner will have some fab digitals of her rubbings a little later.

After my rubbing, I took a stroll with the digital camera and got some shots of this angel. I seem to be quite taken with the large angels posted to watch closely over those who sleep. Edgar Allan Poe used often used the phrase 'city of angels' when making reference to cemetaries/greaveyards. I found I'm not alone in my fascination. Angels in Stone

Its absolutely amazing to me that these older markers with angel sentries are handcarved. Here is this weeks angel preceeded by the remarkable entry way to the Russian Orthodox Cemetary Dallas, Pennsylvania:

Grave Humor

Following are the "last words" desired by some famous folks:

"I wish I were standing here reading this instead of you."
— George Burns.
"Here lies the head stone."
— Mick Jagger.
"She wasn't always funny — but she was never unkind."
— Erma Bombeck.
"I'll be right back." — Johnny Carson.

I'm still wracking my brain for my final words but I am inspired by the above. Aren't you?

He who laughs last .... As we walk among the cemetaries, I find myself thinking long and hard about the people who are buried in the graves. Were the people buried under the massive ornamental markers famous? rich? or just well loved? Does the size of the marker and its degree of ornamentation reflect the life, lifestyle, or just the station in life of the person?

I ponder my own death and how I should like my final resting place marked. My final statement. My last hurrah. Gaudy or plain? Massive or medium in size? Perhaps, a bit of humor. Humor has always served me well in life. Yes, that's it. Humor. My final resting place should reflect my sense of humor. I'll be sure and let you know more as I haven't the foggiest idea right now.

My mother always said I had to have the last word. Well, I think I can top that---------I will have the last laugh. I hear it's the best.

GRAVE RUBBERS, PART DEUX

We have a date for the week-end. The news print and charcoal blocks are ready, and we have our itinerary laid out.

First, the closest cemetery, Hanover Green. There is a tall stone that is crying out to have an imprint of the beautiful engraving. Then off to the Russian Cemetery where is it entirely possible that we will find monuments carved in the cyrillic alphabet. How interesting is that?

I am amazed at how many people have been eager to tell about graveyards neat them or that they have visited and held their interest. Jill has a copy of a very old stone in her living room, and toxiclabrat offers a vision of the grave of Jim Morrison and the information that Winchester Catherdral in London sells rubbings of some of the famous monuments there.

We are taphophiles. We are among you.

RETRO DREAMS

The house I live in was built in 1972.

The kitchen was done in earth tones: dark walnut cabinets, gold/beige/tan ceramic tiles on the floor, swirled yellow and gold countertops, begie, beige and beige striped wallpaper, amber stained glass hanging lamp over the table. It has never been updated. The picture we took of the 4 year old going off to nursery school can be placed next to one of the same boy as he graduates from highschool, and there is no difference in the room.

Since the budget is limited, I must make do with paint and paper to create a new look. I mean an old look.

Because I am a fan of all things retro, and I would really like a vintage look to the place. The makers of my cherished Stangl dinnerware also produced some items for Toastmaster. The distinctive embossed mark on those pieces is recalled by the funky appliances in this wall paper pattern.


I see this with some white blinds with 2" slats and white ruffled curtains. A little Martha Stewart paint on the cabinets (almond and pale straw) and we're all set.

Can you picture it?

THE PICTURE OF PURE ABSOLUTE JOY

From Robin at Spiritchasing:

"... Instead of dropping the boxes into his shopping cart, the father gently set them into the eager, wide-open hands of his kids. The boy and girl stared at their Crayola boxes, lips creeped into the happiest of smiles. The girl brought her box up to her nose, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. Her smile got even wider then. Eyes still closed, box still glued to her nose, she swiveled side to side from her waist; her 2 chin-length, thick black braids swung gently against the sides of the Crayola box. She was the picture of pure, absolute joy."

Found during a discusion of most popular Crayola crayon colors.

link via Sometimes I ...

Dear Louise,
Did the Mayflower have Lithuanians on it? Thanksgiving will be an international eclectic meal. Don't forget we put the E in eclectic right here in Boondocks, Pennsylvania. I've been trying to talk the Great Lithuanian Hunter into going out yonder and shootin' us women folk a turkey. It is turkey season, ya know.
The Dickens Village------------just the thought of those white boxes with styrofoam casements in them runs chills up my spine. (and makes me want to get the prozac script refilled.
The Art Car Parade is in April, dear Louise. A trip to Zanesville, Ohio? Why I never thought you'd ask!!!!!!!!!! I'm in.
I think it's all rather splendid. Thelma and Louise. A dynamic force to be reckoned with in the upcoming months

THELMA AND LOUISE

It looks like we'll be making a lot of excursions together this year.

We have the holiday thing going on this year. Thanksgiving should be a hoot as the pilgrims meet the pharohs. Do you think the table has enough room for turkey and stuffed grapeleaves? After the cookfest and the clean-up we could go cemetery crawling all week-end. Unless we take time out to set up the entire Dickens Village in your family room?

Then we have plans for the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in NYC in February, and the Orange Show / Art Car Parade in Houston in March. Now what about the wandering-around-aimlessly-in-a-car vacation that you proposed for the two of us? I was thinking we could head for the West Virginia - Ohio border to the mecca of American Pottery and depression glass. I hear they have a Roseville Museum, and maybe we can even find Paden City to gaze upon the site where they made Modern Orchid dinnerware.

What do you think of that?

Rubbing not Robbing

I've raised quite a few eyebrows during recent converstations. I've been sharing the details of my new found interest with friends and family. As soon as I see the brows go up, I clearly restate--- grave rubbing NOT robbing. It's amazing how many people are not savvy about the art of rubbing headstones. I can't wait until we have our next excursion armed with all the proper supplies. I have the ideal spot for my first framed rubbing right under the stained glass window in our entry hall.

As a great pottery lover, I found this simple urn to be a wonderful focal point for this monument.

MONUMENTS


It's a new interest of mine.


I'm not even sure what to call it. Cemetary crawling. Grave rubbing. But I've developed an appreciation for cemetary monuments, thanks to the vacationing Sheila, who lit the spark but still doesn't know the fire she has started. It started with just casual admiration of the photos she has posted from her cemetery observations, and then moved onto a discussion about engraving and making tracings of them.


So last week, when I was again in Pennsylvania, I called my best friend and said, "Pick me up at 8:00am. we're going to look around some cemeteries." Her initial reaction was "uh ...ok." and I know she went thinking if she got it over with, then we'd have the rest of the day to inspect the entire Martha Stewart collection at Kmart. But within an hour, she was totally into it, flinging herself on the ground in order to get a better angle for photos.


There is so much beauty and artistry to be found. We spent hours walking from one section to another, pondering about the loved ones beneath the stones. For that is what they are - the dear departed. We did our best to be respectful and we avoided people who were visitng their family plots. We touched the carvings, considered different angles for photos, and peered between the barred doors of masoleums to see the stained glass windows.


Monument To A Small Child, 1877 - 1883
Thanks to Sheila for giving me the idea, thanks to John for pointing me in the right direction, and thanks to the other cheek's husband , who does not yet know that he is making walking sticks for us to use in the frost and light snow.

Reprinted From bobthecorgi 10/11/01