When I was little, I enjoyed visiting the graveyard and cemeteries very much. Those visits were always either on public dates set as dates for everyone to visit the cemetery and remember the dead or on the deceased birth date (or week) or the date (or week) of death of the deceased.
I enjoyed visiting the graveyards because they were on hills and valleys. The journey there was very interesting but all completed within a day. We usually end up having a lunch picnic at the same gravestone every visit and then bid our farewell to relatives.
The day usually start off with running our assigned errand which could range from buying flowers, incense, food and etc. We enter the valley or hill from one entrance but there are more than one exit. Many flights of stairs are climb on each visits and it is definitely crowded on traditional dates of visit.
After immigrating to Canada, I no longer visited those graveyards on an annual basis because the time commitment and travel expense was too much; however, each time I return to my place of birth, I would also visit the graveyard.
In recent years, I once laid down in two graveyards, I was feeling sad and wanted to lie with the dead for a while. These graveyards I drove by or walk by many times but never actually set foot in them since I did not know anyone there. I didn't realize that one of the graveyard had a nice circular area until I set foot in it for the first time ever that's where I laid. I heard the tree leaves or vines waving behind me as the wind blew through them. It was very relaxing, peaceful and quiet. I didn't feel lonely because I was surrounded by gravestones.
After that, one day I read an article from the City's life magazine which encouraged residents to visit cemeteries even if we are not related to anyone resting there. This made me happy.
One evening, I decided to visit my grandmother's grave. She used to be buried at the place I was originally from. She was airlifted all the way to be re-buried in Canada. When I got there, it was passed visiting hours and the cemetery was closed. It was impossible to get in, the gate were closed too. I was upset that I could not sit at my grandmother's grave and talk to her. I sat across the street where the cemetery is and said I'll come back another day with a cup of cappuccino when the gate is open.
After a five minute break, I proceeded to walk home and saw day break. It was a very interesting day. After getting home, my entire family thought I just went for a morning jog and did not know I walked all the way to grandma's grave and back.
Today, as I am stuck at home because of COVID-19, I came across short videos made by the City and hosted by the official historian of the city walking and introducing each cemetery maintained by the City. In these videos, I learned that gravestones can tell stories and leave clues for further readings. The plants in each cemetery can also be talked about. I enjoyed listening to the official historian very much.
