Notes - gravestones / cheers / Schneider's in the AM /

       An important day in the natural world, the Equinox was after ten o’clock this morning thus Fall begins officially. You arrived at Schneider’s before ten to find Carol and Linda sitting on the bench in front of Schneider’s with their sacks of goodies. After ‘breakfast’ you headed down to the Stone Memorial and the three of you spent the next hour and a half choosing and buying your memorial stones. Linda’s is approximately thirty-two inches wide, ten inches high and twelve inches in length gray granite, similar to her parents’ stone. Yours is thirty-six inches wide, ten inches high and twelve inches in length and has your name blocked Richard H. of the left with birth below and Carol H. is blocked on the right with her birth below. The death dates will be added later. The stone will be added to the cemetery either in December or later in March. Orndorff will be centered at the head of the stone in larger letters just as Carol’s parents have Hammond centered at the head of the stone in larger letters. Your plot is just east of her parents as they and you are on an east-west layout. Linda’s stone is just south of yours as Mary Lou’ stone is just south of her mom and dad. You told Kim and Paul that you will contact Gretchen and Cathy to gain permission to allow your mother’s empty plot (with her gravestone) to be used by Kim and Paul with their gravestone at the eastern side of the east-west oriented plot in the Orndorff section on the east side of the cemetery. You are in the old Cook section on the west side of the cemetery. Only cremains are accepted, two cremains per single plot. Thus, if all goes according to plan you’ll be in the same cemetery – which is Kim’s wish and yours. – Amorella

       2012 hours. The old Otterbein Cemetery is sacred space to me, always has been, but oddly, in a way the whole world is sacred space too, so, in the long run, it really doesn’t make much difference. We are born in one place and most of us die and are buried or memorialized in another. I am not sad about it as it is just another chapter in life, like starting the first day of school – a happy time. That’s how I look at it, that’s my perspective. Everyone pretty much consciously makes up her or his own conclusion about leaving this place. “Cheers, to one and all.” - rho

       You saw Uncle John this afternoon and he was in good spirits. Tonight, Paul is at the hospital and missed dinner at The Pub, behind Barnes and Noble at Polaris. Carol had a wrap and you had Shepherd’s Pie. The boys are finishing their baths. Tomorrow morning you head to Schneider’s for more doughnuts before heading back to Mason – Carol and Linda in one car and you in the other. Post. - Amorella