What do you feel/sense when you visit a cemetery?

[RitaZ.]

This thread was inpired by MargieJ

I feel peace and very relaxed when I visit the cemetery.

How about you?

 

[caitycaity]

at night -- creeped out

during the day -- sad

 

[Micca]

I feel like I should get out asap, as I'll have plenty of time there at a later(hopefully much later) date.

 

[helenabear]

I can't help but feel sad still...

 

[wishuponastarforever]

Peace

 

[Lanshark]

Tranquil

At peace

Calm

Serene

 

[nativetxn]

I've never visited a cemetery at night, only during the day. I always feel just so interested in reading the headstones.

I remember when I visited a cemetery in Savannah, GA. There was a headstone for a woman who died at age 108 (way back in the 1700's too).

The stone said, "killed by lightening". I think that must have been a true sign that it was her time to leave this earth

 

[Alice28]

Tranquil---I like to look at the headstones and try and grasp a little bit of someone's family history.

 

[grinningghost]

I LOVE cemeteries. I could spend hours in one, just reading all the headstones, and trying to imagine what the people were like. It always blows my mind to think that there were entire generations of walking, talking, working, living, breathing people that are no longer here. Just like all of us will be one day.

 

[Pembo]

A few years back I went on a quest with my brother to find old relatives graves. My brother is very interested in geneology. It was quite fascinating reading all the older grave stones, seeing the dates, the names, and a lot of times the cause of death.

So I feel/sense - peace.

 

[flrose]

Ditto what grinningghost said! Cemeteries are fascinating places. I can just feel the history of the people buried there and it's very peaceful to me.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I always feel at peace.

 

[allicat]

I feel like I cant wait to leave.
I remember going to visit my DH grandmothers grave with him- it happened to be Mothers day. When we went to the cemetary, it was packed with visitors. People were picnicking on the lawn and there were balloons all over.
It just struck me as sad and the picnicing was just odd and I just wanted to leave.

 

[TheTexasKid]

Respect.

For those who have gone on before me. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Peace- When life gets rough I love to go visit my angels at the cemetary- Everything seems to make more sense and decisions become clear when I can be near them.


I am blessed by angels- and I wouldnt have it any other way.

There are some cemetaries like an old miners cemetary about an hour or so away that hasnt been maintained and that has more of a creepy feel with all the brush and broken headstones around.

-em

 

[Mishetta]

Peaceful yet sad. When I used to visit my uncles & aunts, etc...it was just a peaceful place. Now I go to visit my Mom & that brings me deep, deep sadness yet I just want to be there.

Regarding someone who posted about picnic lunches & balloons...I see that all the time. During the summer, I brought a picnic lunch for my kids & I. We sat near my Mom & had lunch together. It was sort of bittersweet since my Mom & I & the baby always had lunch together. I see balloons on gravesites for their birthdays or anniversaries. It's sad yet it's a statement from the family that they didn't forget. I see nothing wrong with it. It might bring some people peace.

One more thing I'd like to share. I won't mention his name but we have a gentleman buried at the same cemetery where my Mom is, that was a Titanic Survivor. He has this huge headstone with the Titanic photo etched on it & on the stone (which is about 5 feet high), it has a story engraved on it too regarding this man who was one month shy of 5 years old when the Titanic sunk. It also mentions that his parents were among the victims & he was then raised by nuns at a certain convent. He got to live till a ripe old age of 86 I believe. Anyway, it's very interesting & my oldest son always begs me to drive past his grave just so he can look at it!

Hi Rita

 

[Deafmedic]

Mishetta, that is really interesting. I would love to see that grave.

At the risk of sounding morbid, being from a small town, my wife and I can usually tell you what a certain person had died from since we are both medical professionals.
Going to a funeral or cemetary doesn't really bother us.

 

[lstokes]

When I was growing up during the 60's in rural Iowa/S. Dak, Memorial Day week-end or Decoration Day was almost a family reunion at the small country cemeteries!
Every relative would come and decorate their departed's graves and then picnic and visit all who came!
Usually made a full day of it as was quite a drive.
To this day, I feel a grand "safety net "around me when I visit my loved ones in their resting place. I know that they are with me always in my heart daily, but find the comfort still of visiting them graveside.
I have raised my children also to be eager to visit the cemetery. We like to read the gravestones and imagine all the families together.
Remember our kids will
be the ones left to care for our graves when we are gone. Give them pleasant memories of the site rather than only the grief of losing your loved ones.

 

[bumcat]

I can't handle reading the headstones of children. Lots of sadness there.
I do enjoy reading the other headstones and love all the history. I was curious as to what kind of person they were.

 

[shortbun]

My Mom is a geneologist. I basically grew up touring cemeteries
and rubbing grave stones. I feel a sense of history when I'm
in one. I like to look for whole families and look for the stories
told by the graves. I feel peaceful and serene. When I was in
High School, a friend had a fatal hunting accident. A bunch of
us took some beer to his grave, drank it and poured it on his
fresh grave at night. We really felt connected. Silly but true.
I love to visit my Grandfather's grave. I talk to him about all the
things I know he would enjoy that are going on now-personal and
newsworthy. Am I weird?