Connections With The Hereafter

An unopened bottle of Corona. A tin of Copenhagen. A dead squirrel. Various medals. Flowers. Cards. Letters. These are among some of the things that I have noticed people have left on the graves of their loved ones at Arlington National Cemetery. Most of the things left behind are left on the graves of the recently departed, mainly within the past ten years. The section that holds the heroes killed during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars is probably the most heart wrenching. These were the sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to those left behind who try and cope with their loss. So they visit the grave of their beloved and leave a memento, a treasure, a trinket, some object that helps to give closure to the living.While to most people, those objects might simply appear to be trash, to those who have left them behind it forms a connection with the one no longer among the living. It helps keep their memory and spirit alive.

As I've grown older, but not up, I've thought quite a bit about death. I agree it is a somewhat morbid topic to contemplate, but like it or not, every person alive today will have to deal with death at some point. The death rate among the living is 100%. Everybody dies. What is done with my body at death really doesn't concern me. At that point, things are a little bit out of my control. Bury me. Burn me. Throw me out to sea. I do not care what happens to my body when I die. I've got enough to worry about before I die without stressing over the things that happen afterwards. But one thing does give me a reason to stop and reflect. What will people leave at my grave when I"m gone?

There's quite a few things that I think could be left. Some of these, although not necessarily practical, could include a backpack, a pair of boots, some object pertaining to the US Air Force, a pulaski, a grip hoist, an unopened bottle of Pepsi Max, a chocolate bar or two, a winning lottery ticket (something I never saw in life and would find utterly useless in death, but whatever) a camera, or a map. Any of these items could be left but I doubt anyone will leave one of them. Still, I would like to know what others would remember me for. I hope that, after I die but before I pass into the Great Beyond, I'm allowed to listen to my eulogy. Just to be able to hear what people think. Not that any of them would be telling the truth, but just to hear what they say. I would also like to visit my grave after a couple of years just to see what people have left on my tombstone.

There's a really nice compass I've had my eye on for a couple of years......