We moved out to an acreage 5 years ago. I was charmed by the land, trees, birds and wildflowers, and the peace of the location. The house was, interesting.

We decided to buy the house with an enthusiastic realtor prompting us, very skilled in pointing out the plus sides so we wouldn’t pay attention to all the negatives and overwhelm of the house project ahead of us. And there was a lot of that.

My best friend, who grew up in the country, told me to go outside, anytime I got frustrated with the house. Which, I have done.

We have 1 neighbor down the hill, which we thought about contacting AFTER we bought the house. Luckily, we were blessed with the most amazing couple who have helped us over and over.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and today is Monday. I’m trying to get to the point. Across the road from us, is an old cemetery. There are headstones dating back to civil war times. Every Memorial Day, the groundskeepers spruce up the cemetery, and get ready for a gun salute. Cars line up along the road, outside out house. And they have a short ceremony, and a gun salute to end it. We always watch from our deck and take a moment to remember, honor the dead. And its such a meaningful moment and something I look forward to each year.

Not this year. The cemetery manager decided not to have the event, due to Covid19. And, I’m a little sad. I love to see people show up, often with younger generations, to teach them what Memorial Day means, besides barbecues and days playing on the lake.

As a child, I remember Memorial Day as a day we spent seeing Grandparents. At my dad’s parent’s farm, Grandma would get out rusty coffee cans, that she saved from year to year, and fill them with iris and peony stems that grew in long rows close to the windmill. I can see it so clearly. We would load those cans full of flowers and take them to the cemetery. I don’t remember much after that, because I’m sure we were playing with cousins. Then, we’d go to my other grandma’s house, my mom’s mom, and stop at grandpa’s grave.

We didn’t have many military people in our family, so I just remember Memorial Day being a time to decorate graves of family members. I don’t think that’s wrong. Some will say otherwise. It’s a time to slow down for a bit, be grateful and remember. You might do that other times of the week or year, but I do hope you do it.

And, I really don’t think it’s wrong if this is a time you get with family and friends, and have a barbecue. We live in such a fast paced society, that these National holidays, often provide the only time to take a break, and excuse to gather and enjoy community.

Today, I will miss the gun salute. I hope they do it another time, after the fear of Covid19 dissipates. I hope people gather and catch up and share some food. I hope people teach their children to decorate graves and honor the memory of those who passed.

Your friend,
Anne Dovel - The Fit Quilter