Gone but not forgotten

I think that we all have ways in which we find moments of peace and serenity.  I think most of us have more than one way.  In addition to reading the word while drinking a good cup of coffee or tea with low soft music playing in the background, sometimes I just need to get out and find peace while being physical.

Sometimes that looks like a hike along a wooded trail, sometimes a drive in the country and sometimes (well often) I love to visit old cemetery's and walk through the grave sites.  That is where I was led to yesterday.  I take the time to read what is written, enjoying  most, those from the 1800's.  You can almost always learn something about the individual.  I close my eyes and let myself visualize the person- what their period clothing may have looked like, how did they die? who did they leave behind? Most of the stones will indicate the exact age of the individual breaking it down from years, months and days. 

I stumbled upon the plot of a John Swickad.  I soon learned that he was the head of a very large family.  There were numerous sites and all listing their place in the family.  I was drawn in, looking at sites of married couples and their children, several passing very young.  I often think when I see gravestones of sibling children that it is likely they died of illnesses that are today easily cured. I sit quietly and try to connect with this family (NOT as a medium would do) just to feel the stillness.   They likely have no one visiting the sites and it seems like it just validates they once walked this earth many years ago.  I quietly walk away leaving them to once again be undisturbed all resting together and my prayers was they are together in eternity.

I came home and googled John Swickard and found this photo- the dates matching those on the grave site-  beside his photo were photos of more than a  dozen relatives who are buried in the plot as well. 

I love history, even more I love the 1700/1800's. 

I continued to walk thru the grave sites and found many that said "gone but not forgotten" and it occurred to me that most of these sites had been forgotten.  Maybe not because no one cared about the individual but instead because some of them were 200-300 years old.  Who would be left to care for them?

I stumbled upon these and confirmed that indeed these were "forgotten"

                                                  
                                          

                                  Words so old they were barely legible.

Broken, knocked over stones.

This young mother died at the age of 30yrs,5mos and 22 days

Molding of her hand.

I recognize and appreciate that not everyone enjoys cemetery's so finding peace there may be hard to understand.  I recognize that the souls of these individuals are living in eternity, but to me it symbolizes they walked this earth.  Just a part of history I enjoy that brings me peace-so

Mr. Swickard and Mary his wife and all of your decedents, know that though you are gone, for at least one day in this century- you were not forgotten!