AFTBOTGOOGD 2021

 

In December of 2019 when we held the annual meeting of the AFTBOTGOOGD*, we were appalled to see that the graves in the Chinese section were devoid of their customary oranges. What could have happened? We never found out and last year we decided to take some oranges along with us. Just in case. We placed them at the graves that matter to us. And hence another tradition emerges.

This morning I gathered three oranges and the two wreaths and waited for Bonnie to pick me up. We were delighted to see the Return of the Oranges in the Chinese section and found it interesting that the oranges were all clustered at the entry rather than atop the individual headstones. Whatever. It was, as they say, all good.

And then we noticed the take-out coffee cups. Whatever the real reason behind them couldn't be as good as some of the imagining that we did.

And then it was off to our uncle's grave and then our parents'. Please note that the wreaths are identical; after all, Elmer and Elva were twins.

We went to visit our grandparents' resting place and nearly got caught up in a funeral procession on the way. 

And then we went to visit the Monillas and their extended family, a plot we discovered several years ago because of their lavish decorating and location approximately equidistant between Elva and Elmer. You can check out its former glory here and, by the way, also learn the story behind the AFTBOTGOOGD's name in that same post (win-win). 

Alas, no decorating had occurred! None. Zip. Not even an orange. We discussed whether we were just too early in the season (most years we don't go until the 20th or later) or perhaps the Monillas had experienced a recent tragedy that precluded their coming. I tell you, it was unsettling. So we left them an orange and made our way out of the cemetery, discussing the possibility of a return visit, just to make sure. Sure of what, though?

On the way out we passed this nice grave for the Scruggs, completely unrelated to us or to the Monillas, but noteworthy because of the symmetrical soda can placement. Something else to think about, to ponder.

And, no, we're not going to start placing coffee cups next year. 

Or soda cans.

*The Association For The Beautification Of The Graves Of Our Glorious Dead.