A long way from the battlefield

This is the civil war memorial from the Old City Cemetery in Sacramento, California. One of the things I love about this memorial is that it is fully painted and has such a beautiful color to it. I have always had a soft spot for veterans section in cemeteries. I love to see flags on the graves of veterans, for flags are such a simple way to acknowledge someone who served this country, and yet so few places take the time to do it.
One of the things on my "bucket list" is to go to the Normandy American Cemetery Colleville Sur Mer. The people of France are wonderful about keeping this cemetery in wonderful condition.
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Elk Cemetery

I spent a little bit of time yesterday at Cuffy's Cove Catholic Cemetery in Elk, California. Elk is a very small town in Mendocino, California (Population is about 200, so once again, a wonderful town with more people in the cemetery than in the town!)

This cemetery has a beautiful ocean view, and is surrounded by beautiful trees. (No bunnies were out that day though). There are a wide variety of grave markers from wooden to mausoleum (okay, only one mausoleum) and a few with the traditional weeping angels (my favorite).

One of the things I love about small town cemeteries is the upkeep. Very often they will have a "cemetery clean up day" where the towns garden club (and other volunteers) pick a Saturday and clean everything up.

Many of the graves at this cemetery still had their "flag day" flags on them, but I took it as a sign that someone is decorating the cemeteries for the different holidays. As long as someone cares, that is all that matters.

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Two are always better than one...

I one of the reasons I like "cemetery wildlife" is that is can take the "scary and weird" aspect about cemeteries. Animals are supposed to be very sensitive to spirits and such, so I think I feel better as long as the bunnies are around!

Surely bunnies would run in terror at the presence of spirits and, since I trust their safety judgment, I feel safe knowing they are there! (Besides...why would anyone haunt a cemetery???? You would think a spirit would rather be where they lived, or died, or something...not a cemetery. Especially if they never spent any time at the cemetery while alive!!)

I know I would be bored haunting a cemetery. I mean -- there is not always someone there, and I would hate to think of having all the bunnies run away from me. They would be my main source of entertainment!

I will admit that I do get very happy when the bunnies let me get just a little bit closer than the last time I was there. Maybe I am becoming a "bunny" regular!

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I blame Stephan King...

I have never been to a pet cemetery. I know there are a few near me, but I have never gone to one. I am not sure why. Pets are like family, and I can understand the need to have a memorial for a pet. (I tend to cremate and take with me).

I have always enjoyed animal memorial statues. Heroic animals that helped during times of crisis (not just wars, but heroic war animals tend to get statues a lot).

For some strange reason, I think I stay away from pet cemeteries because I would feel real grief about those entombed there. Animals can never express how they want to be memorialized, or even IF they want to be memorialized, but then again, cemeteries are more for the living than for the dearly departed.

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Rocky the cemetery squirrel

Anywhere there is peace, tranquility and lots of trees, you will find squirrels. I was able to get pretty close to this squirrel. His friends were a few yards away, on the ground, hiding behind headstones and looking for food.

I have always wanted a bird feeder on my cemetery plot. (I am sure there are rules against it, but a girl can dream). Or maybe a bird bath. I would love to have birds visit me everyday for their breakfast. I have bird feeders now, and love to watch all of the different kind of birds that come to visit me.

Surround yourself in death with the things you enjoyed in life. I mean what harm can there be???

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Where everybody knows your name

I love small town cemeteries. Odd Fellows Cemetery is located in Point Arena, California. Point Arena today has less than 500 residents, and has a cemetery with one of the most beautiful views of the ocean. (If I were to be buried here, my tombstone would say (I finally got my ocean front / view property!)

Despite being such a small town, I have been able to find soldiers killed from all of the 20th Century wars. (Including World War 1). It is hard to imagine the grief a small town must have to have one of their own killed overseas.

The next town over is Manchester. It has a population of less than 150, and a very small cemetery Evergreen.

Two weeks ago they had a volunteer effort to clean up Evergreen. (Mostly gardening was needed). The last time I was there, I took the above photo. The McMullens are buried next to their FIVE infants. I can not imagine the grief of having all five of your children die in infancy.

It is touching when a community comes together to take care of their local cemetery. Especially when the number of cemetery residents outnumber the living city residents!

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Looks are often deceiving

Gone are the days where people could speak "cemetery." People used to put great thought and a lot of time into choosing a grave marker. Take John W. Rock (he is buried in one of my favorite cemeteries Sacramento Old City Cemetery). Many people today would look at this marker and think "a Calvary guy", but looks are deceiving!

By looking at this brave man on his horse I know that he was wounded in battle, but did not die from his injuries. (The horse has one leg raised, as opposed to two, which means killed in battle).

Everything on a tombstone means something...from the flowers to the ornaments. Today people put basic information (name, dob, dod, title). I wish people would go back to telling the story of the persons life through pictures and sculptures. Tombstones were once a celebration of life, and today, they are simply a cliff note.

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