“Do you think it is ok?” I turned to Remi, hesitating. “I don’t know, it is Toussaint…” “Oh, don’t worry,” he responded reassuringly. “By the looks of things, they will be happy to have a visitor or two.”
Toussaint, or All Saint’s Day is a serious affair in France. There is nothing of little ghouls begging for candy, no. Instead, families come together to remember and respect. We were on our way to a tiny village outside of Chablis to take flowers to the graves of some of Remi’s family when he glimpsed something surprising through the rain and pulled the car over swiftly to a stop.
An abandoned cemetery. The gate was unlocked. A path of grass had been cut back for the occasion but the tombs…the graves…I had never seen anything like it. Nor had Remi. “And we never will again,” he added.
Waves of emotion rolled over me as I carefully threaded my way through this forgotten world. My hands trembled. But Remi had been right. I did feel welcomed and not haunted at all but rather deeply moved.
I am glad that Remi reassured my initial resistance, it was quite an experience…
Thank you Laura.
David, if I have read this poem (and I believe that I have) it was many moons ago and means something else to me now. Thank you, as always for these little gifts.
It looks as though you and Jeanne were on the same page in your reactions to this, Judi. I am very moved by all of the responses, actually.
That is a truly beautiful sentiment. And a Buddhist one too. I have been trying to be more aware of it as I grow older. You will see too in my next post…
Me too Michel, certainly as the village nearby is still active…?
Every now and then I stumble across abandoned cemeteries too. They are mostly plague cemeteries. The sad think is that they mostly consist of unmarked graves.
Looking forward to the next segment – it is a beautiful, touching series of photos and emotions that you provided us today!
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!That root covered tombstone!!!!Thats a piece of ART!I adore cemetery's…..what a find.Your photos are beautiful.Do share MORE!!!
I believe you!