Day of the Dead

I'm not a big fan of Halloween, not sure why. But I'm fond of Day of the Dead which falls on November 1. While traveling in Italy a few years ago, I was in the Greve in Chianti region of Tuscany on that day.

I couldn't figure out why there were so many parked cars around a church I wanted to see. Parked four blocks away and as I approached the church, I found out why. There in the church's old cemetery were dozens of families gathered around the graves of loved ones. Some had brought dinners, others were toasting with wine. Many had photos. Somehow it was a very comforting sight. I think there's something reassuring about thinking about people who have passed out of this life. I've found with time, I tend to remember the good moments and not so much the bad. Keeping just the good memories, makes it easier to go on without a special person. The loss stings a bit less.

The first anniversary of Frost's passing is coming up at the end of November, maybe that's what made me think of death. Or maybe it's my brother's fascination with graveyards as we grew up. I don't know, but I find the rituals associated with it very comforting.