Saturday, March 22, 2008

Daffodils in Comet Lodge Cemetery

I went to go investigate that fairy ring down in Comet Lodge Cemetery.

It's not really a ring. More like a U.

IMG_3807

And fairies probably didn't put it there.

IMG_3806

IMG_3812

I'm not particularly superstitious about this supposedly haunted place, which I've written about before, but this 1-year-old's epitaph does creep me out a little.

IMG_3814

I think it says: "Weep not, father and mother, for me, for I wait in glory for thee."

IMG_3815

5 comments:

Kim said...

I can't imagine why that inscription would freak out a pregnant woman. Yeesh. Stay out of baby cemeteries before you freak yourself out.

JvA said...

When I was a little kid, I used to beg my dad to take me out to play in cemeteries. I was especially fascinated by the graves of babies and children. (And roaming peacocks.)

I also really liked going to the dump.

I hope our kid is weird like that.

Anonymous said...

In 1952 my parents bought a house on 23rd and Orcas, one block down from Beacon Ave. At that time the cemetary now known as Comet Lodge, covered a much wider area.
The border of the cemetary is now a Korean Christian church and many houses stand where once there were sunken graves and tombstomes made of wood,carved so long ago they were petrified.
My brother Rick and I played in that cemetary and often ate our meals there. Our lives were hard and our parents were neglectful alcoholics.
We spent every spring, summer and fall in this peaceful and safe place. Every day it seemed to welcome us to play there in the trees and unkept cemetary.
We loved it and we both have very happy memories there.
It had been 45 years since I'd been there but always thought of the happiness my brother and I got from being there.
In the spring of this year I was with my daughter and two grandchildren on our way to visit my aging parents who still live on Orcas, and as we went by Comet Lodge, I said "I would love to walk through this place again."
We stopped the car and went into the cemetary, my daughter, my two grandkids and I.
I felt so welcomed and happy to be back in a place that brought me so much comfort and peace and acceptance again.
It was a beautiful warm day and we brought fresh cherries and pennies for offerings to the spirits that dwell there.
I sat under the big tree in the middle of the graveyard and a warm gentle breeze blew acrss my face and it made me smile inside and out. This wonderful feeling had not aged as I had, but remained loving and peacefull as though it had been waiting to see me again, this time with my child and grandchildren. My 7 year old grandson found a deflated ball on the grave of a young boy and played as though he was playing with the spirit of this child.
I just obsereved with deep appreication, reliving happy memories with my brother. We were there for a long time and what a dear feeling it brought to me and I hope that I left that feeling with "Them" as well.
Don't be afraid because this resting place is for children as well as adults...there is "something special" that watches over children there.
It watched over me and my brother for many years and still watches over the ones who remain there. So, if you go to this place in the future, remember to be respectfull and leave offering of some kind (cherries and pennies). This place that has been desecrated and abandon by the cities is now and always will be SACRED land. When I am only a memory...my ashes will be scattered here in this place that gave me joy as a child and adult. So when you come here in the future and you see a woman and children playing there, remember that things that frighten some...bring joy and life to others. Respect this sacred place.
Teresa

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad Teresa posted the good memories she had there. At least two of my blood relatives are buried in Comet Lodge. It's really nice to have good things to think about rather than the bad things that happened there (meaning the desecration). The ball playing image and the pennies lighten my heart. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

My family lived on Graham just down the hill from the cemetery in 1958. We had no idea how large it really was, because we could only explore a "city lot" portion of it nearest Graham because of the brambles trees and brush. We were fascinated by the tree trunk stones and the other old(to us)markers. There were still 50 or more in the small section we could roam. I was unaware of the recent history, but a trip there yesterday was far different from my memory of the place. All over the country, resting places are plowed up or paved over. It is good this one is not entirely gone. bj 10-06-2010