Dia de Los Muertos: Cemetery Three
Getting hungry, we decided to
head over to the next stop, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and then try and have
lunch after. We weren’t quite sure if we were going to be able to make it to the
fourth place, Forest Lawn Glendale, before closing time. We headed on the I-5 through downtown and around the North side of L.A., up on the hill, the Hollywood
sign in clear view on this beautiful fall day.
Stopping of course at the front desk, we received the info we needed
and then purchased some carnations and baby’s breath. We wanted to place flowers
on both my grandparents and my late Aunt Lorena’s graves.
My grandparents met in Texas. My grandfather worked in a shoe store. My grandmother came in to shop for shoes. The shoe must have fit, I suppose. Moving in 1924 I am guessing, to California, my grandpa built a house on a steep hill in what is known today as Highland Park, living out the rest of their days there. My grandmother would lose four sons, my grandfather and a grandson before God took her home. My Grandmother Tommie loved the L.A. Roller Derby, The Thunderbirds.
Passing by Griffith Park, driving along Forest Lawn Dr., around the bend is the
cemetery. Here, we shift to my
Father’s side of the family.
Stopping of course at the front desk, we received the info we needed
and then purchased some carnations and baby’s breath. We wanted to place flowers
on both my grandparents and my late Aunt Lorena’s graves.
Our first stop was my Uncle Harold.
My grandmother had triplets, two survived, Harold and Howard. They were younger than my father. My Uncle Howard rests at Rose Hills with his wife and son.
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| United States Merchant Marine WWII and Korea |
Aunt Mary Sawtelle, my dad’s sister was the next memory placard. Both my grandmother and my two aunts were very crafty, especially when it came to crocheting. My sister and I always received a handmade ornament when we'd go to Gramma's for Christmas; one of my favorites, the crocheted angel. (I will post a pic when I find it again amongst my Christmas decor).
Across and down the hill a little further, but still close, we located my
grandparents. Look who else decided to take a late afternoon stroll.
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| As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. |
My Uncle Bert is somewhat a mystery.
He died when I was in the 5th grade. It was the first time I observed my father cry. I never remember meeting him
or my dad talking about him much…but then again, my Dad was a quiet, somewhat
mysterious man himself. My sister’s oldest son John resembles Uncle Bert so much. Bert was the oldest child.
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| Houston Bertram Markham US Coast Guard |
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| My Grandfather Hubert Markham |
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| My Grandmother Tommie L. Trout Markham |
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| side by side |
My grandparents met in Texas. My grandfather worked in a shoe store. My grandmother came in to shop for shoes. The shoe must have fit, I suppose. Moving in 1924 I am guessing, to California, my grandpa built a house on a steep hill in what is known today as Highland Park, living out the rest of their days there. My grandmother would lose four sons, my grandfather and a grandson before God took her home. My Grandmother Tommie loved the L.A. Roller Derby, The Thunderbirds.
Within close proximity is my Aunt Lorena, the baby of the family. She has two wonderful, talented sons, my
cousins Ron and Steve. My Uncle Harold
was like a father to the boys.
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This picture taken at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, is my father's family. Everyone is pictured except Bert who had already passed away. My Father is on the far right.
Matthew 7: 13-14 “Enter
through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that
leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
 
Isaiah 61:3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified Revelation 21:6-7
6 He said to
me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of
the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
As we were leaving, I snapped a few shots at the entrance, the
magnificent fountain, marble statues and the gates.
I walked closer through this particular plot, many Asian names in this area; to photograph the carving a little closer and I spotted this
simple little pebble, smiling back at me.
Do you see it? It is in front of her right foot.
"Love is the emblem of eternity; it confounds all notion of time; effaces
all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end."
Anne Louise
Germaine de Stael
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