I’ve spent more time having cemetery conversations this week than any other time in my life.
Last week, on the anniversary of my mother’s death, I went down to put down flowers. She’s buried in a family plot with my dad, my sisters and various others. And I noticed there is a small marker, about the size of a shoe box, at the end of one of my sister’s grave. It looks homemade and had initials JMS on it. My sister’s headstone only has her maiden name (the m part) but not her married name (the s part). Her husband killed her in 1970 and my mom purposefully left her married name off. She had a 2 year old when she died so I assumed he’d put it it there. But he didn’t. After checking with the small town funeral home and cemetery association, where it came from remains a mystery.
Several years ago when one of my uncle’s passed away, my parents and one of my dad’s sisters went together and bought 16 plots. 12 of them are now occupied. 2 are reserved for me and my nephew. And this started with my cousin who lived in New Mexico all of her married life asking about the 2 on her parents’ side. Odd that she wants to be buried in my hometown (not hers) but she wants to be with family. I talked to my nephew today to make it very clear that I would not be using mine. I want to be cremated as cheaply as possible and have my ashes scattered. I told my nephew he and his wife could go there …he could surprise her with that info in her Valentine’s card!! I’m buying a small marker with a Texas Tech Double T on it to show I existed.
I hope this is our last cemetery discussion ever.