In many cities and small towns throughout the globe, there are places where the living take comfort by visiting the dead. Cemeteries provide a common burial place for relatives, ancestors and the unknown traveler. Many believe these to be sacred grounds, spaces to reconnect and remember those before us. For some a look ahead to our own mortality. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had a line I often think of from one of their songs called “Buy for Me the Rain”. It looks at this from a slightly different angle; “Gravestones cheer the living, dear, they’re no use to the dead“. All are valid thoughts and should be respected regardless of your personal views.
In my town there is a beautiful cemetery. My wife and I have gone there for years to walk, watch spring take back the landscape and follow the seasons as winter inevitably returns. I often bring my camera as I cannot deny the beauty. People come there to paint, jog, stroll, get married and seek a type of peace hard to capture in the surrounding city. The trees, surrounding lakes and flowers keep demanding our return. Over the years I have taken many pictures and I would like to share a small sample with you. This is where my mother and younger brother had their ashes placed, so it is a special place for me in so many ways. While not intending to capture gravestones or monuments, they are a big part of its beauty. Tourist attractions often include Spring Grove Cemetery for travelers and those not familiar with the city. Fall is gorgeous there. Peace can be felt there. I hope some of these pictures will give you an idea why it draws so many people again and again.
Beautiful, Mike!
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Thank you! I will post more soon. Hard to get the sense of how beautiful the area is with just a few samples.
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Wonderful Mike. Love and respect are the hallmarks of humanity and we see them in such places.
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Thank you so much. Very true and so important to understand. So much history, love and devotion in one place it is hard not to feel it surround you.
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This is like no cemetery I’ve every seen. Beautiful. And beautiful photos as well. Thanks for sharing!
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It is, isn’t it! It is a true local gem. I am glad they are open to visitors of all interests. I do not have to sneak my camera in or be concerned about where I go or what pictures I take. I appreciate the comments and will share more pictures soon. Every season is just amazing.
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That’s one beautiful place. It makes me want to sit down right there on a bench for a year, with pen and paper and write lyrics inspired by each season!
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I agree completely. It is gorgeous through every season. I am often rushed during my visits as it is hard to avoid deadlines and outside pressures. That is why we go back season after season, year after year. I have hundreds of pictures and have taken away many thoughts to write about later. I will share more pictures as the response has been great.
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Beautiful and of course a bit melancholy so peaceful and serene. thank you.
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Thank you. I agree. It is difficult to take pictures here and not feel the loss of countless families and friends. A place where many find peace and beauty to replace pain and emptiness.
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I agree that the ritual of burial is for the living of course, a place to mourn and then revisit the memories. In my family cemetery there are graves dating back to the revolutionary war…it’s quite startling!
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… to mourn, revisit memories.
… to celebrate lives past and allow life to move forward after loss. The sense of family history is so important and amazing.
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so true mike!
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Gorgeous! As a child, I used to sit on gravestones and play. Then there was a period when they spooked me out. Now, there’s a sense of connection and being a part of a greater script called life.
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Thank you! I think of life and growing up more as a spiral than a ‘circle of life’. We can pass the same places and experience similar events, but each time we bring with us what we have learned from the last encounter. At some point the spirals ‘connect’ and we begin to truly understand. Good for you!
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There is no peace as such elsewhere on earth than a cemetery, such a beautiful silence.
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Agreed. It is easy to unwind and absorb other important things in life there.
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This reminds me of the cemetery in New Jersey where my parents and my husband’s parents are buried. The cemeteries around my home in Arizona only allow markers level with the ground. I love the beautiful old monuments.
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It is good for survivors to have a place of beauty when they visit cemeteries. I find it inspires a sense of peace and helps replace the loss many feel. I could not imagine the level markers but I understand reasons behind that kind of planning. I love the older monuments too and will post more pictures in the future. Hard for me to resist sharing them!
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Very lovely, Mike–and I don’t know why, but I puddled up as soon as I began reading. (I see you found my new blog–thanks!)
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Thank you so much! I am glad to hear you were touched by the article and photos. The land and the history mean a lot to me. I will thank Alisa for tracking you down!
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I don’t know Alisa…did I comment to her somewhere and my mind’s gone blank??
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No. I refer to her from time to time in this blog as she inspired (and twisted my arm) to start MIDIMike. She is my daughter and helps me a lot on this blog. Unlike me, she is a networking marvel and keeps me on target and inspires me to keep in touch with the outside world. Nothing wrong with your mind! Ha!
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Oh yes, I recall your daughter now–I didn’t realize she was adept at finding your followers who’d changed identities yet again 🙂
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Ha! She is the ‘better half’ that keeps this blog’s act together.
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That is so beyond cool!!!
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I know. She makes me look good all the time LOL
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Haha 🙂
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Serenity! You’re a great photographer, Mike 🙂
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It is a lovely place indeed. Thank you for the comment but I am just a guy with a camera LOL!
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It is a beautiful cemetery.
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It really is. There are so many unusual trees and plants it is amazing in the Fall time and the Spring blossoms are delightful.
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Wow, very beautiful indeed. The lyrics you chose to mention also fit quite seamlessly. As always thank you for sharing.
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I am glad you liked them. It was difficult to pick my favorites out of so many beautiful pictures so I tried to give a few good samples! I also have so many great songs running through my head from the years of listening to music and I thought of those immediately. Thank you for the great comments and you are more than welcome!
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Amazing to learn 🙂
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Glad to share!
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Beautiful photos! I never thought of a cemetery in this way……hmmmm
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Thanks again! I have gone there for years and felt awkward at first, but they invite everyone and welcome visitors. Very cool place.
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