Quirky

I have an affinity for cemeteries, particularly old ones.

When I was a kid, my parents used to drive us up to New England to see the spectacular fall colors, buy early apples, take in a covered bridge or two and, at my mother's urging, stop and read gravestones.

By age 11, I was hooked on 18th century center hall Colonial architecture and dead people.

Here lies the body of Jonathan Pulter who departed this life
April ye 27th 1708 in ye 40th year of his age
(doing the math for you, that means he was born in 1668).

The stone above stands in the Ye Olde Burying Ground (I am not making this name up) in Lexington, MA. This wasn't the oldest grave there, but the carvings were fantastic for being 304-years-old. Memento Mori. Fugit Hora.

The graves were lined up in a sort of Stonehengesque pattern, so even if headstone placement was no longer accurate, the preservation of this pre-Revolutionary cemetery was stunning.

(With thanks to my pal Betsy for getting out of the van with me so we could check on everyone. She, too, is a bit of a cemetery wonk.)

In that we got a little mixed up on our departure time from Boston last week, we managed to squeak in a little more time on The Freedom Trail and the delightful cemetery that is the Granary Burying Ground. We are talking Paul Revere, Sam Adams, John Hancock and a Colonial crowd of notables. 

It was growing late as we walked up to the cemetery. The graves in the center literally were bathed in the setting sun. (The gates were locked by the time we got there, so I was unable to determine who the illuminati were.)

All of the pictures were taken with my phone, so the quality is poorer than usual. I suspect my DSLR would've picked up on any apparitions.

Boston is by far my new favorite city. We are moving there, if I can convince my husband.

So far, he is sold on the clam chowder. The cost of living, not so much.



Linking up this week with Mrs. Matlock and Alphabe-Thursday. Check out other Q contributors at http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/