Raul and Lisa visited the cemetery on October 11th to commemorate Dad's birthday. I was out there three days before that. It looks good: pieceful and beautiful. I am sure Dad is happy there.
We had an official meeting to discuss the cemetery. This is a requirement. Officers must gather and talk about the state of the cemetery. We decided to move forward with incorporating the cemetery. Lisa is going to get the paperwork going on that. We hope it will help our cause and aid in the family keeping the land for the family cemetery. We are hopeful that if we become an official nonprofit, the mortgage holder of the larger piece of property the cemetery is located on will elect to donate it to us. That would be a real emotional relief. I'll keep you posted.
I sure miss him.
1/08/2010
Other dirt, other graves, other thoughts
Dad's grave has settled. It needs the addition of more top soil. This is something I had anticipated. I knew that over time, decomposition of his body and the sheet and box that embraced it would allow for a settling and create an indention above ground. Simple, predictable physics.
What I had not anticipated is the mental image that comes to mind every time I see the indention. It sends my thoughts to skulls, skelitons, and unmentionable smells. I need to address this soon. A nice top dressing should do the trick. I want to remember dad as he was, not as I am sure his body is now.
In other graveyards, these issues are accounted for and addressed behind the scenes by a dutyful staff. I must mention the growing list of maintenance items you should be aware of if your dad decides he wants to be burried out back.
Rent, taxes, utilities, insurance and a fund for unexpected expenses must be funded. Plants must be pruned and watered, grass cut, grave site policed and backfilled as needed. Access to and from the cemetery must be maintained too. I am sure this list will continue to grow as I become aware of more stuff.
Finally, I wonder if there are others who would want to use our family cemetery for their loved ones. I don't know what the legalities are on that. I will look into it. Say, hypothetically, a family lost a little child and was in no financial position to cope with the loss. Could they be our guests and use the cemetery? This idea would have pleased dad. He would have thought: :"Hell, the more the merrier." Then he would have followed with "Let's all screw the man out of funerals and graves!"
\Well said, dad. Now stop shrinking.
What I had not anticipated is the mental image that comes to mind every time I see the indention. It sends my thoughts to skulls, skelitons, and unmentionable smells. I need to address this soon. A nice top dressing should do the trick. I want to remember dad as he was, not as I am sure his body is now.
In other graveyards, these issues are accounted for and addressed behind the scenes by a dutyful staff. I must mention the growing list of maintenance items you should be aware of if your dad decides he wants to be burried out back.
Rent, taxes, utilities, insurance and a fund for unexpected expenses must be funded. Plants must be pruned and watered, grass cut, grave site policed and backfilled as needed. Access to and from the cemetery must be maintained too. I am sure this list will continue to grow as I become aware of more stuff.
Finally, I wonder if there are others who would want to use our family cemetery for their loved ones. I don't know what the legalities are on that. I will look into it. Say, hypothetically, a family lost a little child and was in no financial position to cope with the loss. Could they be our guests and use the cemetery? This idea would have pleased dad. He would have thought: :"Hell, the more the merrier." Then he would have followed with "Let's all screw the man out of funerals and graves!"
\Well said, dad. Now stop shrinking.
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