A Gravestomp through Fairfield Cemetery in Ela township, Lake county IL which begs the question, what do you want to be remembered for? My thanks to Sandy Coffell who watches the video blog regularly and who asked me to stomp this particular cemetery. The statue that looks like a little mole is actually a small lamb that has decayed. Sign of an infant's grave.
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Who gets to be remembered? By how many? for how long? and why does it matter?
ReplyDeleteAsk your average teenager 'who was Mother Theresa?' then 'who was Jack the Ripper?' what do you think the responses will be?
After how many years of life do we feel the need to be remembered for anything by anyone other than those closest to us? I'm into archaeology and anthropology. I am interested in the people who went before. and those to come, I think all of their lives had and will have value. I wonder what they're like in everyday. So I appreciate this post greatly. But I beleive it's not as important to be remembered for something as to have had an effect while we're around. and everyone has an effect on the world. everyone.
I agree everyone has an effect on the world. Lack of mindful living has increased waste and human suffering exponetially. That is humans effecting the world. But maybe it's time we make conscious choice about how we effect it. You don't have to want to be rememberd, and true you won't be. As I say in my book--no one's impact lasts forever.
ReplyDeleteBut humans have to start somewhere, and for some, knowing their lives have made no difference is a strong impetus to connect with others, and to begin to take action.
Thanks for the comment!
Sweet stomp. What was your feel in the cemetary? As to the burning question, how do I want to be remember, ask me on a day that I am not pissing in peoples wheaties. LOL. Anyway, I am glad you checked that cemetary out, now you see why I like do the rubbings there. I want to be remembered as a loving mother and an awesome best friend. Someone with a warm and caring heart. Someone that would help people just so they would smile.
ReplyDeleteAwesome stomp again as always.
Thank you, Sandy.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to say I'd be proud to be remembered for being a mother or a loving parent. My children will remember me when I am dust and ashes as much more, They'll remember the love I gave them, how hard I worked for them, the laughs we shared. I'd like to be remembered as a writer, a poet, a mother, a lover, a biker, a leader; but the realism is we the un-remarkable, are only going to be remembered only by those we loved. So is it so bad that we have mom or dad on our commemorative stones?
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ReplyDeleteThe "unremarkable" are only "unremarkable" because they choose to be. There's no universal decree that you must be unremarkable. That's an excuse. Choose to be remarkable and your life will change. Choose to be brave and your life will change. Our country is fucked up because we Americans have decided it's enough to think only about 'me and mine'. You have the choice: make a bigger impact or hide in your clan. As for how often family members are remebered: when you spend time in graveyards you begin to see how rarely plots are visted by family members. Life takes over. It is the tendency of the living to want to forget the dead.
ReplyDeleteI have written my obituary every year since I was 25, last year I did not for I lost a close friend in October. Your stomp makes perfect sense to me. Should one be remember for going through the motions, or, should on try to reach a little more and touch ones that could use our lives to lean on and/or learn from at that moment. I see the unsung heros everyday. The people that take the next step to reach out and ask for nothing in return. Everyone is better at the end of the day because of one persons effort to go beyond themselves. This year I will return to writing my obituary, so I thank you again Corin, for your efforts to reach out to see if anyone in listening, sharing, and learning. Respectfully, Jennifer from NH.
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