Julian or Bust...or Apple Pie...or Cemeteries

Last month on a cool Sunday early afternoon I decided to go exploring and drive east to the mountains.  I pointed my trusty Camry toward Julian, CA - traveling on the 8 freeway...because as sister Kathy regularly reminds me..."The 8 is my friend".

Julian is a quaint mountain community known for its interesting history - but mostly for its legendary apple pie.


While en route - about a 40 minute drive - I gave my sister Ruthanne a call to see if she wanted to meet me there.

She answered my call - as she was driving back home from her own early morning visit to Julian.  I guess great minds think alike - just not always in the same time frame.

It was a beautiful day for a drive. With the elevation - the surroundings seemed more reminiscent of  "real" season changes.

When I arrived - the place was bustling with lots of like-minded folks who also thought it would be a good day to visit Julian.

I walked around the many shops and displays and found a great little place to eat.  So I had a healthy salad...and a piece of pie.

Afterward I wandered toward the edge of town and came upon an old cemetery.

I've always been fascinated by cemeteries.  I wonder about the lives and circumstances of those people whose headstones help remind us that they once existed in this world.

So as I wandered and wondered - something struck me about this place.  It was very different from most memorial parks with their manicured lawns and straight tidy rows of traditional headstones and monuments.

This was definitely not a resting place with rules and regs about keeping the area free of mementos that would hinder lawn mowing equipment.

Many displays were far from traditional.  Some were very clever and unique, some touching, others a bit gaudy and over-the-top...but they were real and heartfelt and amazing.

It was by far the most wonderfully eclectic collection of memorabilia, doodads, nick knacks, and "stuff" ever assembled.

I wanted to know them...and their stories.

Like Ian - the young man who left too soon and was someone's best friend.

 Or Jeffrey -

What's the significance of a "headstone" being forged on the back side of a shovel?










This one reminded me of Miss Havisham from the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations". 

I'm pretty sure I haven't thought of that character in 100 years...or at least since the time the book was 'assigned reading' in high school.

I guess after all these many years - she must have made an impression on me after all.






I love the shape of this rock and the
sweetness of the necklace wrapped
around it.



A special gesture in memory of
someone who was loved and is missed.







So is life...or death

...merely a crapshoot?










Whatever it is....or isn't...

 ...it was evident that there was a lot of "Forever In Our Hearts" going on in that place.

This lone head stone looked a little under-dressed.

On my next visit to Julian - it'll be wearing a flower.

...a gift from me.