 |
| This was Janie C.--she traveled to Oregon in a covered wagon, hated it, came home. So I have been told. |
It is
said that death bestows gifts upon all. I
won’t try to name them, but the one I like is: Death washes the past and gives sanctity to the dead.
 |
| Julia, Nora, Bessie, and ? |
At
least, so I thought. Recently I visited
my favorite and remaining Aunt Vada in Macon, Missouri. It was the first week of October, with all
the beauty of fall giving glimpses of what colors were to come. We visited non-stop, words filling the
air. Aunt Vada is a gifted writer, with
a way of placing words exactly where they need to be.
 |
| James W. Shive, died at age 3 years, 3 months, and 16 days. |
One of
our days involved traveling to my mother’s hometown, across the Mississippi
River into Pike County, Illinois.
We visited
Crescent Heights Cemetery high on the bluffs in Pleasant Hill, IL, where Mom’s
parents and relatives were buried. Each
time I have been there, I vowed that this place has the most incredible view of
any cemetery.
It is
also the only place I can get cell phone coverage in the whole of Pike County.
We
stood silently over Grandma and Grandpa’s graves, and then examined a family
pillar on which Grandma’s side of the family were recorded. I have seen that thing hundreds of times over
my life there, but I never knew. I never
knew the stories that Aunt Vada shared with me.
 |
| My grandparents |
Oh. Really? No, not back then… Those
were my words and reactions as she touched each name and told the highlights of
some very rowdy, randy, and raunchy ancestors.
 |
| Martin Van Buren Shive, patriarch with the names of his children carved on all sides of the monument. Lots of children. |
Moonshiners, fornicators, adulterers, underhanded politicians, swindlers—they broke every sin
listed in the Bible.
I tell
you, check out your ancestors while you still have relatives who know the whole story about them. And, it might be a good idea to look at your
own life, since someday you’ll be the ancestor about whom stories will be
told.
Sounds like you do have quite the bunch of ancestors, they just liked to have fun haha And only place for cell phone coverage? Geez, town needs an upgrade.
ReplyDeleteCell phone coverage in this area is spotty at best, and the cemetery is an ideal spot for many activities I have been told.
DeleteYep....let's give them somethin' to talk about....
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that I was a very good girl all my life. Responsible and kind. Maybe it is time for a change.
DeleteOh, I did. And in the last A to Z Challenge, I wrote about it. R is for Roots. In 2001, my cousin and I went to SW Sweden looking for our roots and what we found was precious. I strongly recommend doing this.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Sometime, you will have to post some of the stories you discovered.
DeleteI wonder who knows the whole story. There are facts we take to the grave, intentionally and unintentionally.
ReplyDeleteOnly God knows, and He isn't about to open that can of worms. We have enough cans around these days and lots of can openers.
DeleteI certainly don't know a fraction of the stories belonging even to my most immediate relatives. Grandparents? Shrouded in mystery on both sides. You have me thinking though (smiling the while) about just what stories of my own life I would like to be told and, how I can ensure it.
ReplyDeleteI know much of your family stories were lost in WW II. Do some incredible things (swimming near Antarctica counts!) and write a book about them all.
Delete