May 15--"I'm not a couch potato!"

[zyzyly]

...she said, as she viewed a fitness video while lying on the couch.

It was a good day. I got up fairly early to take a walk and play some ingress. After walking I drove down to the town south of mine to capture a portal for a field I wanted to make. The portal is the sign in front of an old cemetery serving the rural area it is in the middle of. There are stones from the late 1800s up until the present. It is fairly small, and surrounded by cow pastures.

After I capture the portal and made my links, I wandered around looking at the gravestones. It was a beautiful morning--somewhat cool, but sunny, and the grass was dewy. I sat on a stone bench for a while and took in the morning. It is actually a very lovely spot, out in the middle of nowhere. I imagine that other than the few families who have recently buried people here, the only people that come out here are Ingress players.

One gravestone caught my attention. It is fairly new, probably within the past 5 years. It is hand-carved from granite--the type of work you don't see anymore. It is an angel, with some little people surrounding his legs. At the time, I was mostly interested in how the light was hitting the face of the angel, and that's what I photographed. I want to go back, though and capture some of the other details.



I love cemeteries. They are so peaceful, and great places to sit and reflect. My love of cemeteries came from my grandfather (as so many things I love came from him). He loved to stop and buy some sandwiches, and drive out to the old cemetery near Olema, where we would sit and eat, and reflect on the meaning of life, or whatever.

This cemetery has been less than 10 minutes from me for 16 years, and I just now discovered it.

Comments

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Here are my 2 45 mph couch potatoes.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

haha! they look ready to go.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Trader is our oldster (12) We have had him 9 years. Honey is a youngster and almost 4. We got both of them directly off the track. We live about 45 miles from Ebro, a dog track. :( We have lots of tracks in Florida, and most of the dogs go to adoption groups to states that have banned racing. We have been involved with moving dogs, but that was a few years ago. Most groups have big dog haulers now, unless it is a special needs haul. If involved in moving dogs, we try to remain racing neutral in order to stay in good graces with the owners and handlers so they will give their dogs over and not destroy them. It really is a lousy industry, between you and me.

[kishenehn.livejournal.com]

I love the light in that photo.

And yep, that's the best thing about Ingress ... it gets you exploring places and details in the world that would have otherwise never been noticed.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I have to remember to bring my camera when I go out.

[thoughtsbykat.livejournal.com]

A beautiful angel. I look forward to your return to capture more details. Cemeteries are a quiet place for reflection.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

they are. I will probably return next week when I recapture that portal.

[wantedonvoyage.livejournal.com]

I imagine that other than the few families who have recently buried people here, the only people that come out here are Ingress players.

Interesting how the game has had that (unintended?) side effect.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It is. I have walked in the park by my house for almost 15 years, but it wasn't until I started playing Ingress that I realized how many little memorials there are to people from the community there.

[saintgeorge.livejournal.com]

When I was a boy I used to like visiting graveyards because I thought the spirits might be lonely for human company. My parents and friends advised me that graveyards were generally bad places to hang out, but I persisted. This went on until one day I encountered an apparition and after that I stopped visiting the dead.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I have never met an apparition in a cemetery, so find them comforting and comfortable places.

[saintgeorge.livejournal.com]

Apparitions can appear surprisingly life-like, at least until they dematerialize, so it is possible that you have seen an apparition without being aware of it. Ghosts have gotten a bad rap in horror movies but some can be quite harmless and tolerable.

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy walking through cemeteries, as well. I like to read the headstones, especially in the older ones like found in Europe.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I love some of the old churchyard cemeteries in Europe.

[(Anonymous)]

When you were out in NOLA did you get the chance to check out the cemeteries? Theyre effing awesome, and my brother was altogether too uncomfortable with how much time I wanted to spend in them. Can I guess? Is this a hood franklin thing? Ive been out there a lot of times and while I dont remember a cemetery that area just has a creepy feel with all the desolation and elementary schools...a cemetery would fit in.
-Durkee

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I got to check out a few, but the only thing I have to show for it is a plastic Jesus trying not to be blown down.



This cemetery is off 99 at Arno Road. There is one at the corner of Franklin and Hood Franklin that I know well. I used to stop out there when I rode my bike from south Sac to the river and eat an apple under the old tree. The creepy thing about it is that it is walking distance from the skate place. lol. How is Bakersfield?

[pinkroo.livejournal.com]

I adore cemeteries. I want to visit some really old ones. I went to a Jewish one in Albuquerque that was interesting. I miss going new places.