Strolling through a cemetery today

Today I took a walk through a rural cemetery. The day is crisp with the dark blue skies only autumn brings. Acorns and hickory nuts hang heavy in the trees and crunch on the ground as I walk. Fat squirrels scamper through the branches. Leaves are only just beginning to turn.

The cemetery has graves with markers that range from worn unidentifiable sandstone nubs to modern granite extravaganzas depicting hobbies such as motorcycles or fishing. Many generations of some families are buried here. A couple of the graves are new, the clay soil still raw. Many graves are decorated with bright artificial flowers and, less often, with flags, wind chimes, solar lights, or statuettes of angels.

There are many graves of infants and small children, especially from the early 20th century. A few souls lived to 100 and beyond. Military service was often noted, including “Soldier of the Confederate Army.” A disturbing number of recent graves are of young people in their teens, 20s, or 30s.

A lovely walk, if a bit depressing.