May 25, 2008

Memorial Day

It's been a year since my father died. On a picture-postcard beautiful afternoon, my mother, one of my sisters and I went out to visit his grave, on which the stone has just been placed. He's buried in an old country church in the hunt country north of Baltimore City. It's the family church, first of my mother's family, going back to the 1700's, and then of my father, going back to when he immigrated to the US from the UK in the 1950's.

My mother and I had visited the church this winter, during a snow squall and wind storm. The light was incredible that day, with a black sky in the background, and the the low winter sun highlighting the white stones.
After we visited my father's grave, we went to find my mother's and our ancestors. The graves date from the 1790's and are worn and mossy. You can still make out the dates and names on some of the graves, and it's an affirmation of our family's deep history in Maryland.
These 220-year old gravestones still retain a certain elegance and grace.
I love taking shots of doors, and the one at St. Thomas is a beautiful example of a classic door with lovely symmetry.
On this Memorial Day weekend in the US, take a moment to think about people who've gone before you, and who've paved the way for all of us.

19 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures, and a very nice way to honor a dad's memory.

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  2. These are great photos...it must be comforting to you, for your family to have such a deep history with the place where you live.

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  3. I m so sorry to hear about your dad and I hope that you mum is coping ok.

    It must be very tough for all of you- yet you find beauty in the sadness in these lovely pictures.

    Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

    hugs to you and your mum

    FelicityXOX

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  4. What a wonderful post and a what a beautiful hommage to your father. A big hug to you and your family.

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  5. What a beautiful church and graveyard, and how amazing to have a connection to a place going back that many generations.

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  6. Everyone already said it, but it must give you such a rooted sense of being to know that your family goes back so far in the same place. I wish my family could say the same! We're like gypsies!

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  7. What a wonderful tribute to your father. How nice that your family has just deep roots in Baltimore. Baltimore is lucky to have such an enthusiastic and gracious cheerleader as you!

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  8. Thanks so much for the kind comments. I am truly lucky to be in a place where I am surrounded by so much of my family's history.

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  9. Nicely done, Fairfax.

    I felt that way when I visited a cemetery in Louisiana -- there were names that I had previously only heard mentioned surrounding me. Strange feeling for a military kid. I get the same sense of belonging visiting my Dad at Arlington National or stepping onto a Post or Base.

    Roots are hard to shake, yours are well-established -- that's nice.

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  10. I adore (old) cemeteries. KDM

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  11. I have always found this to be one of the most beautiful churches in America.

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  12. Oh, Meg, such a great post. Much love to you...xo.

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  13. So beautiful... and now we are all thinking lovely thoughts about your Dad! A-M xx

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  14. Yes, beautiful post Meg. So glad you shared this. You tied everything together quite elegantly.

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  15. What an endearing post. I went through the same thing with my grandparents last year...

    Anne

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  16. Aw, bittersweet. Glad you and your mom got to go visit. Sweet picutres.

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  17. How lucky that you have such a beautiful place to reflect on your family and heritage.
    -Lana

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  18. What a beautiful, restful place. So sorry to hear about your dear dad. Would love to catch up one of these days!

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  19. This is a beautiful post...the photos, the sentiments, everything.

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