Made in China
May 28th, 2008
Finally got word that the tombstone we bought for our mom and dad’s plot was engraved and has been installed at the grave site.
We were all going to take dad up to see it but decided that maybe it would be better to make the 2 hour drive on a non-holiday. That way we could all enjoy the day off.
Still am amazed that a hand-carved angel tombstone that probably weighs 300+ pounds ended up in a small Kansas farm town. I wonder what the Chinese sculptor thought about releasing the angel from the stone. Did they think about the person it was for or was it just another job?
Grave markers are a strange mix of art/design/purpose. The early (older) stones in the cemetery are limestone and have a wonderful aged look about them. Some are worn to the point that the names have a very soft look to them and will probably be difficult to read as the years progress. Others are made from granite and look like they were laid yesterday. It’s as though people believe they can live on a bit longer if their tombstone remains legible for a few more years. Even in death people do not go gently into that good night.
I’d wanted to have dad’s toast engraved on the back of this headstone but was over-ruled by my brothers and sister. I still think it would’ve been kind of funny and make it, and hence them, all the more memorable in a sea of names with with nothing more than dates of birth and dates of death.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:00 am
When I had a gravestone made for my sister’s grave (some 40+ years after her passing), I had an extensive conversation with the engraver’s wife about people’s choices for gravestones. It was very interesting. She said a lot of times what is on the gravestone is effected by the state of mind of the family at the time. She said it is the best to take one’s time in deciding what should go on the stone. I agree with you about putting your Dad’s toast on the stone. It definately would have been memorable.
So to prevent future rulings, it is best that somewhere amongst our wills, we specify what we want on our gravestones. My problem is I keep changing my mind. I’m thinking “Way Cool Mom.”
May 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
That is so true - we should wait until things settle down before committing to engraving the stone. I think it’s better to be a little less emotional, then instead of being sad we can be more in a ‘celebrating their life’ frame of mind.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
That is a beautiful stone. It will be nice to “visit” your mother there.
I used to tease my mom and say that I was going to have her favorite little motto carved on her tombstone - “I Told You So” - and she would say, “Oh no you’re not. I’m going to be cremated and scattered.” And so she was - I scattered her ashes in the ocean as the sunlight sparkled on the water. Now whenever I walk along the beach and see a sparkle out there, it feels like she’s visiting me, too.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Faith,
That is a wonderful way to remember your mother. There are a lot of sparkles out there.