A situation well in hand

Since it's October for only a few more hours, I thought I'd regale you with a tale having to do with a cemetery.

I walked the cemetery briefly in August, and like many delightful discoveries, it was unplanned. At least by me.

It was on the side trip that we took to visit Cheryl and Alan in Greenville, Ohio, the seat of Darke County.

The Arments took us out to lunch, then we went to the park where I told you about the squeaky little bridge over a cool and bubbly creek.

For all I know, the creek meanders for miles.

Our last stop before leaving town was Greenville Union Cemetery. Cheryl wanted me to see it because she knows I'm a taphophile: I love to wander amongst the tombs.

Remember how I told you I erased a data card, losing all of my photos of the dummies at Vent Haven? That was in the evening of this same day. The regrettable action was preceded, however, by another camera-related thing that I rarely (if ever) do.

I allowed the battery to die. Fitting thing to realize just as you're about to take pictures of tombstones.

Remember I told you, sleep deprivation was beginning to make me do crazy things.

So I put my camera back into its case and grabbed my iPhone and started walking around the cemetery with Cheryl. I was so mad at myself for the fact that I couldn't use my camera.

But my phone is a newer one and at least I had it. The on-board cameras nowadays take better photos than my first two digital cameras put together.

Even so, in such a situation I prefer to be wielding one of my Nikons. Because as I looked around, I was amazed to find this small-town cemetery teeming with angels and unusual monuments -- one so impressive, I haven't seen many to rival it, even in massive metropolitan cemeteries.

And I have walked many dozens of cemeteries. Maybe even a hundred.

I tried not to panic -- when would I ever get a chance to come back here? -- and told myself it was no big deal. It wasn't the "golden hour" -- that last hour of daylight, when pictures take on a magical quality. The light was too bright, too overhead, all wrong.

But I'd take pictures anyway, because I couldn't not take pictures. With my phone, which felt touristy and dumb. It was such a beautiful place. And Cheryl had brought me there, knowing I would enjoy it. 

It wasn't long before I realized, I was standing purely by chance and luck in the middle of a cemetery that I would have taken considerable pains to see, had I known of its existence. 

And not only did I not have my camera, but I had almost no time in which to explore. 

There was a monument that looked to be thirty feet high, topped by a life-sized angel with upswept wings. Beneath her, in a columned rotunda of sorts, stood the stone figures of three women. One held a scepter-like object while another cradled an infant.

The third held an armful of lilies. More carvings of lilies encrusted the bases of the ionic columns, and of the figures' pedestals.

I was too enraptured to even read the names.

Looking in another direction, I saw an angel who stood with her wings upswept against a cross. I've seen many of these, but she was a honey of an example.

There was even an angel missing a hand. I love those. Headless is better, but handless is great.

There's just something about those. I cannot explain why they fascinate me but it's nothing morbid. You'll have to trust me on that. It has to do with the hope of permanence and the ultimate inevitable fragility.

Speaking of permanence, we weren't there more than twenty minutes. After all, TG and I were on vacation. Chop chop.

In my dreams I am back at Greenville Union Cemetery, an hour before sundown on a cool, autumn or spring day. There are either flaming leaves or tender new flowers, in abundance.

My camera is fully charged and no one's waiting for me to finish so that we can move on and do something else. I wander at a leisurely pace and set up all the shots my heart desires.

The angels and other stone figures wait patiently for me there, and in countless other cemeteries I've yet to visit and photograph.

For this one I'll echo Scarlett O'Hara: Tomorrow is another day.

That day being the first day of November. I hope it's a good one for you.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday

Comments

[Sally]

Jenny, your photos are always great no matter phone or camera. I love how you visit cemeteries and get such awesome pictures, and share with us.

I haven't really seen any elaborate stones around here like those you shared. I do, however, like to visit; especially where my maternal grandparents are resting in W FL. Some of the 'family' stones read back in 17 and 1800's.

Happy November to you as well. :)

xoxo

[Luna Crone]

You got amazing photos...

and now, to learn to love Nov. Not always an easy task.

So I did a post on that topic, today.

OH and my dental surgeon works 'magic'!!! Needles didn't hurt like reg doc, in awful place (under nose), where this tooth needed 'deadening'. Out came the bottom of old tooth. In went some "magic base thing". :-) And back in went whatever temporary thing, reg dentist had use, to get me through Ed's honoring Brunch on Sun. So I was not missing teeth. No, not a flapper. And home I came. Just some Tylenol, yesterday. No hole. No pain today. 'Magic', I tell you!!!!! And I told him. Happy! Happy! Happy!

Regular dentist will do the permanent thing, in Dec.

Yes, dental surgery costs! But it is worth it!!!!! :-)))

Hope your Tooth Saga is coming along well...

Trying to add autumn leaves gif to my signature, below...

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
Luna Crone

[Judy]

OOH--I do love the one by the cross! You know, it makes me feel a whole lot better and less weird to have found another human that loves to walk cemeteries.

[Mari]

Wow! I saw that cemetery from the road but didn't get to go in. It's even more impressive than I though. You did great with your phone, but I feel your pain!