Weekly
Update 10/20/2019
This
began as a slow week, but ended up being very busy.
Starting
on Wednesday, I attended a 3-day conference that was held in Savannah
by the Georgia Municipal Cemetery Association. What fun! I
thought I knew where the Holiday Inn historic district was located,
but not so – there
are TWO, and I assumed the wrong one.
Luckily, I mapped it and
was able to get there
just on time. Every talk was interesting: Luciana, the
archivist (also my friend) spoke
on the history of Savannah
cemeteries. I
knew a lot of that info, but it’s always interesting. A
preservation person who highlighted a project at Laurel Grove North,
where
he had restored a mausoleum with the guidance of the city of
Savannah. There was a
lawyer who gave us information on the very limited law
regarding cemeteries. Also,
an
enthusiastic advocate for identifying and saving small private
cemeteries. That
was followed by an
archaeological
group with new equipment for finding unmarked
burials.
And
finally, a
New Orleans preservationist with
interesting stories of things
that have been done to preserve and protect old plots and crypts
there. And
lunch was wonderful: lasagna, mushroom chicken and tiramisu for
dessert.
Thursday,
I was late for the conference because I kept driving around looking
for a free place to park close
to the hotel; I
had no luck and ended up at the visitor center. So
I was a few minutes late. I
have forgotten what it’s like to have to get up, get showered and
dressed, and be some place every morning – like I used to do every
single day when I worked.
I’m
retired now, and this is a struggle that I’m not anxious to
re-visit. Talks,
again, were really interesting, and included: Oakland “comfort
station ", the Good Cemeterian, Secretary off the Interior
standard's, fund
raising,
and BHS history. Then,
everyone boarded trolleys to go to BC and take a tour. The tours
were a little unusual – most people did not really want to know the
history of the cemetery, or the stories of the people buried there.
They wanted to walk around and enjoy the beauty and compare what we
have with what they are faced with at their own cemeteries. I’ve
been working on a slide show that will be presented at the BHS annual
dinner next month, and since this was a lovely, sunny day, I was able
to get the photos that I needed to fill in some blank spots in the
presentation. I
hope I've got the ones I need.
I
stopped at the Goodyear place on
the way back home because
my tire pressure alert light was on. I was third in line, and the
technician
said so
many people needed to have the pressure adjusted because
it was so cold the
night
before.
Well, fine, but the light was still glowing the following morning,
so I had to go back again. It was another attendant who helped me
this time and he must have got it right because the light was off
before I was even out of the parking lot. The older I get, the less
patience I have with incompetence.
The
Post Office is way up there on my list, but it seems no one feels the
need to do the job well any more, and I’m terrifically frustrated
by that.
Friday,
for one last time, I was up to early to get to the conference. Today
was all at Laurel Grove Cemetery, so I didn't have to look for
downtown parking near the Holiday Inn. Sam, the City of Savannah's
cemetery preservation expert (he’s not really a friend, but I do
know him) started with a walking tour of the North part cemetery,
highlighting some of the projects he's worked on and what was done
and why. Kathryn, who’s the leader of the project that
BHS is undertaking to identify and prioritize monuments and plots at
BC that need some care, joined me for the demonstrations of 3 markers
- one needed to be realigned as one side was sinking, one needed the
headstone reattached to the base, and one was an upright slab that
had broken into 3 pieces when it fell. Sam and colleagues did the
work while explaining the procedures. Fascinating! There
was a low country boil picnic at the cemetery. Followed by
a quick tour of Laurel Grove South. And now this conference is
history.
 |
| Sam showing off some of his excellent work to the GMCA group |
 |
| re-attaching a tombstone to the base |
I
went home, but didn't have a lot of time before going back out to
meet Connie at Service Brewery. We had a couple of beers, and there
was a bluegrass band playing. Just what I love - no food, beer and a
banjo. But I lived through it, and it was really nice just to be with
Connie.
 |
| bluegrass music at Service Brewery |
We
left just before 8, and I thought I might just be able to make it to
Fort Pulaski for the special performance on death at the Fort. I made
it. I actually had reservations for the Saturday evening performance,
but that was canceled as bad weather was forecast for all along the
coast for Saturday and into the evening. I was happy to be able to
get there on Friday. It was really, really dark there, and the
electric lanterns they gave us didn't help much. I really liked it
though - being in the Fort when it was so totally dark, listening to
stories. They weren't really "ghost " stories, but true
stories about things that happened at the Fort: a drowning in the
moat, disease when it was a prison, a duel, and the war (while only 1
person was killed in action, 5 died when cleaning up live shells
after the battle).
 |
| a poor photo,but it really was DARK on this tour |
Saturday,
everything shut down and many events were canceled because of
Tropical Storm Nestor. It rained all day, but we never got the high
winds that were expected. I was scheduled to be at BC in the
afternoon, but because no tourists were coming out to wander among
the dripping Spanish moss and through all the puddles, the morning group
closed up early, and I didn’t have to go. I never even stuck my
nose outside, not even to go get the mail.
Sunday,
things did not go as I’d planned. I was NOT scheduled at BC, but I
had to go out on an errand early and as I drove past the cemetery on
my way home, I noticed the door was locked and everything was closed
up. That was strange. I asked, and was told that the electricity
had been off, and the volunteers left. I felt bad because Sunday was
a much nicer day, and many visitors who may have wanted to come out
on Saturday, might show up Sunday instead. So, I opened up and
stayed there until it was time for the 1 pm kick off. At least I
handed out a few maps to people who wanted them. I met Connie at
Coach’s to watch the game with her. The outcome was good, but I’d
expected a total rout, and Miami even had a lead for a few minutes.
I think the Bills should be very proud of the record they have so far
this season.
