Sometimes I start an aimless Internet search when I'm feeling curious. I was born about 5 miles from the village of Esk, Sask. In it's hay day Esk had a peak population of 50. Now it's population is probably zero. I Googled this village last night because I knew there were several websites about it. None of these sites had much information because no one has contributed to them.
My search did lead to a link on cemeteries. There were two cemeteries for the village. Think about it ? Two cemeteries for a village of 50 people. First , I went though the list in the Baptist cemetery. It's a walk threw history. There were people who were elderly when I was a child and those who have died since I left the area. One thing I noticed was that an Aunt and uncle were not buried there so now I will have to look for them.
The Lutheran cemetery is larger and that's where my relatives are buried. My Great Grandpa donated the plot of land for the cemetery. Again, I was just going through the names and not concentrating. All of a sudden a name popped out at me and it was my Mom. Why did the name pop out? I haven't heard my Mom referred to by her name for a very long time as we always talk about "Mom" and her friends who would use her first name are not here anymore. By this time I was awake and I knew what name would be coming next...my sister who passed away when she was eleven yeas old.
So coming across these two names got me thinking. Mom died in 1973, My sister died in 1953. So this year there are two anniversaries. My Mom passed away 40 years ago and my sister passed away 60 years ago. I started to wonder how these family members will be remembered. There aren't very many people who are living who knew my sister. Her memory is carried by very few people. My Mom is in a similar situation. If my Mom was living, next year she would have been 100. Very few of her acquaintances are left. Very few people are left who knew her.
So time rolls on and generations spend their time here and pass away. Grave markers will remind people of who was here. Slowly over time the markers will also disintegrate and we will be forgotten.
and those of us who choose cremation won't even have a plot and a stone to be found years later. :)
ReplyDeleteHere many who are cremated have a marker in a cemetery.
DeleteOn some level, it is true of every person who ever lived and will ever live, Red. If you go back far enough, it's all just gone, and there will be new ones taking the place of the old ones for as many generations as there are people. I think I'll just enjoy the time I have here and not worry about who might (or might not) remember me for a short while. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf you travel through England you get more of an idea of markers etc. Yes, no sense worrying about things. There comes time when we accept our end and the rest of our life is peaceful.
DeleteI agree with DJan. Some things are just too unpleasant to dwell on. Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteSome things we have to think about but surely not get stuck on them.
DeleteMakes me think...........never waste a day for the same will happen to me.
ReplyDeleteI wish more people would say I've got things to do and get at them.
DeleteVery sad to think that few if any will remember your relatives, but I guess this is just a fact of life for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThat's just the way it works. I was thinking about two very important people in my life when I was thinking about memories of them fading away.
DeleteEventually, I too will be gone - some will remember me, however, they will be gone too. Doesn't worry me - I'm enjoying my time on this planet having fun and being generous - those that are reciepents know and it doesn't bother me much that eventually no one will remember. Its all about what you do and how you act now, while here - there will always be someone to fill those boots and in their own manner n ways. Interesting post Red.
ReplyDeleteYes, live a good life. Don't waste any time fretting about something you don't have control over.
DeleteThe memories are treasures we always hold
ReplyDeleteAnd the older we get the more memories we have.
Delete"Her memory is carried by very few people" - I can't get past that line Red. It's sad and yet it is the memories of the most important ones in our lives that count however many or however few.
ReplyDeleteI guess the memories are important to me and maybe that's what counts.
Deletewell, not totally, Red. There are those of us who love...adore...genealogy. Then the names are found and the history is searched until more and more knowledge is gained...thereby remembering forever.
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
You make a great point on the genealogy comment. Just this year we found out who our Great Grandpa's grandpa was.
DeleteIt's true over time, that most people have very few who remember them. It's kind of sad to think this, but although people may not remember each of us specifically, there is probably some trait or mannerism or belief that gets carried down.
ReplyDeleteYes , traits do carry on and show more than we would think.
DeleteThe question is "will digital memory ever crumble and fade?" As memory storage is getting easier, smaller and cheaper the answer is that it probably won't. Which means that Red and Hiawatha House will be remembered for ever more.
ReplyDeleteScary! But your point is correct. Stuff will be kept where it was never kept before.
DeleteThere sure are interesting ways to connect and research online. I know the feeling of wondering who is left to remember. This past Valentine's Day, my mother would have been 99. She passed away in January of '92
ReplyDeleteI find those numbers fascinating. My Mom would also be 99 this year on may 20. My Mom died in 1973.
DeleteYou can leave a memory of them here on your blog. Tell us some stories about them. Gone but not forgotten:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hot tip on some topics for blog posts. I find your family history posts very interesting.
DeleteRed this is probably why I feel it's important to teach my next generation about their genealogy and ancestors. I think that with today's technology that if we document information about who we are and where we come from that our future generations will have something to look back on... that's my hopes.
ReplyDeleteI like what Far Side of Fifty said, I'd love to hear stories of your Mom and Sister and who knows, maybe one day I'll share stories about my Mom.
And yes, we're getting a good dump of snow here in the city tonight.... grrrrr! lol
Yes, the internet will make it possible to leave much more information and it will be easier to search.
DeleteMost of us will be forgotten sooner or later, Red... that's the way it is. But I believe that somehow our love as well as our good and bad thoughts and feeling persist.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that the village had two cemeteries - a Baptist and Lutheran one. I wonder why was that. Did they believe in separated heaven or was it just because of the different communities? It's true that cemeteries used to be set up by churches and if they both had their own church, it would be understandable enough that they also had their cemetery.
They didn't believe in a separate heaven. They just couldn't agree with each other's theology and interpretation of the bible.
DeleteI love you, Red. So glad when you visit my blog@
ReplyDeleteThe pleasure is all mine. It's really nice to be appreciated.
DeleteOh I think the markers have a purpose I always acknowledge those who have left us sometimes way to early. Take care I am sorry for your loss. My Mom is 85 this year. hug B
ReplyDeleteTwo comments:
ReplyDeleteCarpe diem
and
There is an interesting and apposite post by Katherine entitled Live a Life That Matters