Charles

Here is the most thought-provoking tombstone I have ever encountered in my life. It's in the city cemetery for the historic town of Rodney. The cemetery is all grown up now and if you don't know where it was you will have a hard time ever finding it. A tree is just about to consume this entire tombstone of someone I call Charles. I call him that because when I took a photo of this tombstone on Dec. 15, 2007, you could nearly read the name. It is pictured in the last photo. Click on the photos to enlarge them, if you prefer. The top photos are of the tombstone as shot on Feb. 27, 2010.

He's just about gone. I have trouble expressing my feelings about what these photos mean to me. I am glad I know Charles is there, for in a few years no one will even know his tombstone existed. But I know. And I will keep visiting him every year until his tombstone is completely covered up. In a few years, I will have to point out the lump in the tree to photo friends who go with me and tell them the story.

But I also like the lessons I am learning from Charles. Don't take it for granted that you will be remembered. Live on through your children, your children's children and your children's children's children. Tell me what you think. I would love to hear it.