Living with the dead

The resting places of the deceased have long been a part of my life. From a young age,  I was taught cemeteries are not to be feared but respected and even enjoyed. Summers consisted of biking to local cemeteries where peaceful picnics were had under shady trees and we would rate our favorite headstones. Inscriptions and stories were memorized over the years. I have seen my older relatives take meticulous care of their own elders’ graves and generations of my family have been sextons. 

Now during my travels as an adult, I love visiting burial grounds in other countries and seeing how each has their unique take on memorializing their loved ones and heroes. And yes, my favorites will always be the middle of nowhere Kansas cemeteries I grew up with.