[Q-R] Christmas Experience 2 WFlem72706 via 12/25/2015, 2:15:35 AMArrrrggggggggg ! 'm awake......mmmmmmmmmm.....I'm awake.....................really, Henry, I'm awake. 'Ya know its still dark outside. What time is it.? I know, time doesn't mean anything to you. Gees, its 6:15am, Christmas morning. Why did you have to keep running up and down my back? Sue's still snoring away. Henry, I think you should have jumped on Sue and woken her up. Yep, I'll be going to the cemetery just like every Christmas morning. Yes your going, do I have a choice??????? OK, I'm up. Its going to be around an hour before the sun comes up and Sue wont get up if I'm real quite till at least noon.......................LOL Where have you been anyway.............Christmas Eve you were no where to be found. Where? You can really travel that far? Why in the world...............I guess I cant say that about you................your in a different world for sure, but why would you want to go to Iceland of all places? That's very interesting Henry, I really don't know much about Iceland. So, if I understand you right, Christmas Eve in Iceland is a family day that includes visits to the cemeteries to put flowers and candles on family graves............. Really, their dead are buried above ground in a cairn of stones. Interesting for sure..............and then they what? They put turf over the stones and grass grows.............cool. <What else could it be up there??? LOL So, they all look like burial mounds that you walk around rather than walking over a grave. That's a nice custom they have there Henry. I'm sorry Henry, we've had this talk before. Your not really here, at least as I am. If I knew how I could give you some Christmas presents, you'd be loaded up with them. But you cant make much contact with just about anything where I am. You can see things and talk with Sue and I, but most objects you float right through. Why you don't go to where your parents have been for years, I just don't know.You belong on the other side, not half and half like you are. See, your parents could be worried to death, ahhhhhhhhhhhh scared stiff, well, cant use those terms as they're dead, just worried to your where about's. You should be with them. Are you listening to me? Get off Sue's presents...................., you mean to tell me you can see through the wrapping paper? Yeah, I know what's in them, I wrapped them. Henry, this is the time of year people anticipate, its a magical and mystical time. But it can also be painful, with anxiety and a longing for loved ones who have died, like you. But the great memories linger with all of us. The memories are ever lasting. A parent, a sibling, a child, a friend, we still have the memories. That's a big part of Christmas. They are where you should be, in a better place where we will see them again in the future. That's very good to know,Henry. I'm so glad to hear they are all happy and able to see us here. "Come little children see the place Where the infant must lie There is no age that's free from this Both young and old must die" That was very nice Henry, where did you get that? In Hinsdale, New Hampshire.....Gee, I didn't know you could travel that far. Do you know who that belonged to? Mary Ann Wright who died in 1808 at age 1. Henry, is she a friend of yours? I see, tell her I said Hi. Stop playing in my coffee............................and get away from the micro wave. And no, your not spinning on that table in there anymore while my coffee is heating up. Henry, don't you get hot in there? Some day your going to melt for sure. Didn't you and your parents have hope for the future? Try to have goodwill towards all and joy for the season? Hmmmmmmmmm, ok, so your father didn't care for the man who stole his horse. There's always exceptions............... I know things are different now and I know you don't understand time, but things are much different now. How Christmas is celebrated depends on the time, the place and the circumstances..................and you are going to have some circumstances if you don't stop playing in my coffee. I guess this is the most memorable time of the year, and I sure will remember you, Henry. Henry, did you get spanked a lot? Punished, for being so wild. Oh, I see, you got the strap. Bet you wore it out, didn't you? You do remember your parents, don't you? They'll be along......if you say so. You know, you still need a haircut very badly. Go look in the mirror. Sorry, I forgot, you don't show up in a mirror. I'd buy you a new hat if you didn't fall through the darn thing. You definitely are hard to buy for Henry........... Oh, so you like rock candy. And if I was able to find some, would you be able to eat it? I didn't think so............... Eh? Oh this year we're going to have Belgium Waffles for Christmas dinner. That's what the kids wanted, especially, seeing we have that special Belgium Waffle maker. LOL........ maybe I should get Sue one of those Belgium hats like those women up in Quebec City wore in the Belgium Waffle House. I think they can fly with them. What did you used to have Henry? ahhhhhhhhh what ever your father shot. Pheasant, turkey, deer, goose, duck, moose, fish. Hey Henry, there's no moose in this state. Well maybe a dozen or so at any given time, but they are rare here. You say what?????? Yeah, your right, I forgot, this state used to be loaded with moose at one time, more so than deer. And whatcha' have for desert Henry. Yeah, I figured your mom baked real good. Oh, apple pie, berry pies and home made puddings. Gotcha'.....sounds great to me. Yep, figured you helped to pick the berries and apples earlier in the year. And you ate a lot and got a stomach ache...............Hmmmmmmmmmm ,here, that's a sign of very successful eating, but you know, some places, a stomach ache is also a sign of having nothing to eat. And how did you decorate your home Henry?.............Thistle blossoms, golden rod , clover heads and holly. Sounds good, cant say I'm really sure what that stuff is though. And your father played a violin eh! OK, fiddle.............and he played holiday songs and you sung. That's great Henry. No Henry , we don't water our tree. Its not real. No Henry its not the tree that smells good, its the scented candle that smells like a fresh tree. No, we keep it in a box in cellar all year. You only had a little cellar for Indians................Henry, why would you want to keep Indians in your cellar? Oh, yeah, I understand, your cellar was only for hiding from the Indians. This tree? Because I like putting it up right after Thanksgiving. Oh, well, that's an official holiday now, that wasn't a holiday back in your time. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh that's because of those Pilgrim people that settled over in Massachusetts. Oh they wore those funny black hats and long dresses and hated witches. Yeah, I'll just bet your mother wore a long dress. Nope, no more Pilgrims, come to think of it, they're all dead, like you..................well, maybe sometime you can find some. maybe they'll give you a hat. Think I've heard of that, but really don't think people do that anymore. So your father went out Christmas Eve to cut down a tree, brought it home and then you decorated it. Boy, I guess that's what they really call, cutting it close...................... Henry, its getting late. I need to take my shower, get to the cemetery and get back before Sue wakes up. Why don't you go play in traffic.............................never mind, go find a horse and buggy then to play with........................................................................ .. .... If your coming along, lets go............................ride on the roof rack if you want. No I didn't grow these myself and yes they are real. I got the bouquet at the grocery store. That's cellophane......aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh its like clear flexible glass. Figures, you only had one window in your home and the glass had swirls in it and lots of bubbles. I'm sure it was pretty when the sun came up. Glad the snow isn't to deep. Yes I know who is getting these flowers, no I don't know him, but I do know of him. He was a Revolutionary War soldier. He's so famous James Fenimore Cooper wrote a book about him, only people don't know that. Oh, its called "The Spy". As this little cemetery is so close to the house I do see it often and very few people come here, Henry. This guy has never had anything put on his grave that I've ever seen. That's why I adopted him. He's a real historic figure, alright. I know he was one of the three soldiers who captured Maj. John Andre. He's the Maj. who helped Benedict Arnold go over to the other side during the Revolutionary War. I think you should go and try and find some of these people, Henry, they are where you should be.Then you could tell me much better history than what I read in books. Yeah, I know he's not down there. Its a cenotaph. Oh, that means he's really buried some place else, but his monument is here. I know approximately where his remains are about 4 miles south of here. Well, I believe there's a parking lot over the top of where he is buried now. Yes, maybe you can help me locate him someday. OK, Henry, we can go now. The flowers are leaning against his grave stone and that's my visit to the cemetery for Christmas. Yes, Henry, I know most of the rest of these monuments have bones down there. No, you don't touch those two silver dollars over the old mans eye sockets. Those were to hold his eyes closed when he died, they belong to him and leave them alone. What is it Henry? Really, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Yeah ,well, people were buried with bibles back then, yeah, the Good Book. Then leave it alone..............that's what happens when you play with things close to 200 years old, they fall apart. No, you didn't do it on purpose, so the old guy wont be mad.......just get out of there and leave his remains alone. "THANK YOU"................Huh? Henry, why did you say thank you? And if you didn't , who did? No I don't see anyone back there, cut it out and lets go. 'THANK YOU"..............OK, Henry your getting on my nerves. " I said it"............who ?? where??..............................look at the flowers. The flowers are floating above the grave. Henry, you are doing that, right? OK, so your holding on to my leg. What's going on? Who's holding the flowers up off the ground? "THANK YOU for bringing me the flowers"....................who are you? " I'm the Revolutionary War soldier you told your little friend about" Your like Henry? "Kind of..........only I'm where I belong, not still here like your little friend". OK, if your the dead guy, below the stone, I just put the flowers on the grave, who did you capture? 'I helped capture Maj. John Andre, along with 2 other soldiers." Did you execute him? "No, that wasn't my duty..........I had left camp the day before he was executed." No one really wanted to execute him, he was a very likeable gentleman. But it was war and he had to be executed. OK, real quick, turn those flowers upside down while hanging in the air........................damn. You really must be him. But I don't see you. Yes, I did feel the pressure on my shoulder like someone grabbed it. Henry just told me you had red hair. OK, so you still do, but I cant see it. "THANK YOU for remembering"......................Your very welcome, glad I could cheer you up. So, can I come over here and chat with you anytime? Did you hear me? Hello.................... Henry, where did he go? Already? to bad, this could have been a great conversation....................yeah, I know, all day conversation. But......................................... Get on the roof rack Henry, I'm heading home. Yes, you can go down the hall and wake up Sue now..........have a ball. No, Sue, I didn't turn all the Christmas mechanical toys that sing and play music on. You forgot our little friend is here. Merry Christmas Henry.....................(said Sue.) Yes Henry, you can go out and play with the birds and wish them a Merry Christmas for me. So, did you like everything Santa got you Sue? That's good. Me too. I think I got something extra out of this Christmas. Oh, just a good memory............. What? Hmmmmmmmmmm I thought I got everything out of my stocking. Lets see...................... Bill, what's that?(said Sue) I know what it is, its red hair. Red hair?....................yeah, its a Christmas present from an old friend. Merry Christmas Best Bill Merry Christmas / Joyeux Noel and Happy New Year / Bonne Annee / Happy Hanukkah
-- Cemetery Reports
