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			| Bad_Rich_Chic | 11-07-2003 02:26 PM |  
 I hope this is not too morbid for a Friday.
 
	Quote: 
	
		| Originally posted by soup sandwich
 Being in a cemetary, where it seems rude to laugh out loud, is not conducive to telling funny stories about them and whatnot.
 
 |   However, I am of the opinion that cemetaries are very conducive to eating lunch.  I highly recommend this if it is convenient.  Even if not visiting with your own relatives - go ahead and visit someone else's.  Why not?
 
When I was in univ., I often took lunch at an old grave yard beside my faculty building.  I usually ate with Arthur.  Arthur (last name illegible, and I never was bothered enough to go to the parish records to check) was a prof. who died in 1824, and had this nice above-ground stone casket in the classic hexagonal shape.  It was a bit crumbly looking and I was vaguely worried that old Arthur himself would spill out the bottom when I sat on it one day, but it remained sturdy enough.  Anyhow, I'd take my sandwich and perch on Arthur's crypt and watch the birds flit by, and sometimes foxes & badgers &c - the older sections of the cemetary were very grown over, and they only mowed sections in 5 year rotations.  I told Arthur about the latest faculty gossip, got a bit of a tan, whatever.  I remember Arthur more fondly than some of my classmates, actually.  Brought him a big bunch of flowers when I graduated.  
 
Also on this subject, re: burying cremated people, I am reminded of the story behind a favorite headstone.  Seems a chap had the good fortune to outlive 4 wives, and he had them all cremated in urns in his house until - disaster struck - the cat knocked all 4 of them down into a big ashy pile.  So he buried them, with the headstone: 
 
Stranger pause and shed a tear, 
For Mary Jane lies buried here, 
Mingled in a most surprising manner 
With Susan, Marie and portions of Hannah.
 
BR(the headstone may be apocryphal, but if so, please, nobody tell me)C |