Remembering

Today is Memorial Day... when I was growning up we used to call it "Decoration Day" becuase everyone would go to the cemetaries to decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers to remember them. Paul & I have enjoyed this tradition for the past 23 years since Quinn died and we have a special gravesite to visit and then more recently we added the gravesites of Paul's parents and grandmother. Cemetaries always seem so quiet and solitary. Usually when we go to visit and take flowers on birthdays or Christmas, there is never anyone else around but yesterday when we took our bouquets the cemetaries were packed with visitors. It was quite a sight to see. There were flowers everywhere. Seriously, it looked like every grave had a floral arrangement in place. There were small American flags posted at the gravesites of those who had served their country and as the breezes blew the flags waved proudly. There were children running and families arranging flowers and cleaning up their loved ones headstones and sitting in groups clustered in tight circles visiting and reminicing. It was a joyous scene. I'm sure there was lots of pondering and even sorrow and grief but for the most part what I took in was how much life really is at the cemetary. Yes cemetaries are where we place the mortal remains of our dearly departed but who are they really for... for each of us who are still breathing and living to keep connected with those who have gone on -- to visit, to remember, to appreciate, to love, to grieve, to contemplate their lives and ours. Hopefully you will get an opportunity to spend a few minutes with someone who is no longer here and you too will feel how alive you really are. Make the most of today.... and everyday!