Reminiscing in the Cemetery

            The little girl liked being on trips with more than one adult because she could gather information just by listening to their conversations.  They would say things to one another that either they thought she already knew, or didn’t especially mind her knowing.  She was all ears!  Of course, they knew she was listening because she was standing right there beside them. 

            When they arrived at the Haddock Family Cemetery, the high metal gate wouldn’t budge, but that didn’t stop long-legged Uncle Hugh Pearson Vincent.  Right on over he went.  Once on the other side he called back to his sister, “Come on, Louise.” But noticing the confused look on her face he added, “Just kidding, I’m goin’ to try to open the gate from the inside.”  Uncle Pearson had a wonderful sense of humor.  Some people think that that alone will add years to one’s life. It certainly seemed to working in his particular case.  The man didn’t look a day over 40, but in truth, he was pushing 60.

            Once inside the fence, Uncle Pearson and Grandma Louise began reminiscing.  They talked about their grandmother, Bluford Haddock, just like they were children.  “Remember that time Grandma made all those big fat biscuits for company coming?” Louise asked laughingly.

            “Yeah, but then they didn’t show up, so we got to eat all those fluffy biscuits.  I punched a hole in the top of mine, and poured syrup inside.  That biscuit was so big I thought it was goin’ to take the whole jug of syrup to fill it up!”  Pearson was practically rolling in the grass as he giggled about how the sticky syrup had dripped all over his little shirt that day.

            Pretending not to listen, the little girl began to compare her dates with those on the headstones. 

            Milbra J. Barnes Haddock, born May 30, 1816 and died August 21, 1885

            Joseph Caswell Haddock, born August 1, 1812 and died September 13, 1883.

            Matilda Bluford Haddock Batchelor, born 1846 and died June 18, 1916.

            James J. Early Batchelor, born 1835 (?) and died February 14, 1887.

            She read her notes, “Early Batchelor was one of six brothers to enlist in the Confederate States of America, Putnam Light Infantry, Company G, 11^th (?) GA Regiment.” The little girl even knew what Early Batchelor looked like because of a tintype picture shown to her by her grandmother on every single visit for as long as she could remember.  “Now, that’s my sweet, sweet Grandpa.  My Grandmother Bluford knew how close he and my mama (Lena Victoria) were, so she gave her this picture to remember him by.  Mama passed it on to me.  One day when I’m gone, I want you to have it.”

            It bothered the child whenever her grandmother would talk like that because she could not imagine Grandma Louise ever not being around.  It was better hearing her laugh like she was with Uncle Pearson just now.

            She tried not to think about the picture and her grandmother’s allusion to her own mortality, but that was hard to do in a cemetery.