Going to Cemeteries

At Hollywood Forever ... said to D, "I miss going to cemeteries ... as a minister to officiate burials, or when riding my bike years ago in Livonia where there were two huge cemeteries for safe biking.

Cemeteries have always spoken to me - a simply line, I suppose, "We made it, and so will you."

At the time, they all did what humans do ... love, hate, and love some more ... many reared families, worked hard, laid awake at night fretting ... some lived through hell, most lived honorable lives, some didn't.

But they all made it ... and then one day, the dust claimed them again, and to the dust they returned ... and whatever theological or ontological musings one might have, there's a certain relief in this cycle of life to death ...

To make room for others ... for others to give it a try ... to build something better, or at least to keep things in repair.

To learn from them who now rest ... to be encouraged by them ... to finish their work.

And then we lay our burdens down ... not always easy ... none of us say goodbye without tears.

But goodbye we must say ... sooner or later.

I miss going to cemeteries ... they're instructive, even healing.

"We made it, and so will you."