Many farm families live in homes that have been in the family for a hundred gajillion years. We used to have one of those but unfortunately it burned a few years ago. The Cotton Husband and I live on the “Johnson Farm” – directly across the road from CH’s original family farmhouse. And yes, this farm will always be the “Johnson Farm”. It won’t matter how many years we or our children or our grandchildren live and work this particular piece of land… it will always be known as the Johnson Farm. It’s sort of like how even though the grocery store in town has changed names several times over the years I still call it “Chuck’s” – because that’s what it used to be when I was a kid. So that’s what it will be forever ‘n ever. But I’m getting off track…
Yesterday I talked about being a Soybean (me) or a Peanut (some of you admirable souls out there) and I started thinking about planning ahead – like all your Peanuts would do. I’m not so good at that. But MIss Sarah of the Johnson family planned ahead in what I think is one of the best ways ever.
This is the Johnson Family cemetary that sits behind our house
Lots of folks that come here to live (Come-here’s we call ‘em. Creative isn’t it?) think this is strange. But lots of farm families have cemetaries in their backyards so it doesn’t seem so weird to us. Then again, we have a pet blacksnake. So maybe I’m not one to comment on weirdness.
Now, Miss Sarah is still alive and kicking. And she sent us the most wonderful note and gift for our new baby. She really is quite a treasure and we do our best to preserve bits of her family history that we find in nooks and crannies in our (her) house.
But long ago when Miss Sarah was a young girl, she looked out at this cemetary – this cemetary where so many of her family members rest – and decided she didn’t like it. No ma’am, she didn’t like anything about this resting place. Because there was no shade. How can you rest for eternity if you haven’t any shade, y’all?
So Miss Sarah picked out her spot and planted those two pine trees. Talk about dealing with reality. Talk about planning ahead. I think Miss Sarah is probably the ultimate Peanut.
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9 comments
That is good planning. My husbands family homesteaded up in northeastern Montana. We used to go up and look for the old cemetary. It was getting harder and harder to find. I don’t think we could find it today if we tried. We used to go up to the old ghost towns up there (every five miles for water for the old trains). It was so fascinating to look at the old, old dates on the stones and think about what life was like back then.
Thanks for sharing!
I love the family cemeteries. I think it’s a great idea. But, I totally agree with Miss Sarah…a cemetery NEEDS trees. Good for her for planting them.
BTW, I have something for you on my site today, come by and check it out!
I grew up on a farm in Ohio that had a family cemetary. It was the old Sell farm and my parents lived there 45 years and it was still the old Sell farm. Our last name was Shook but the farm was never known by that name. Since my parents have passed away the younger folks call it the old Shook place now.
Oh I just love this sweet little story! And I love old farm houses with little cemeteries too!
Here in Kansas we don’t have individual cemetaries. But it seems every town has the Catholic and then the large all religion cemetary.
Since Miss Sara planned ahead I have to say at 28 years old I too have everything planned. I’ve lost a very close friend and she had nothing planned. It was a huge mess for her family. I decided right then my family would have enough to deal with if I died so I have it all in a file. Cremate me and throw me in the ground! I’m sure my family will thank me for being a peanut!
As a soybean, I don’t care if I have shade or not.
I need to post some photos of Matt’s family’s cemetery, I took some photos on Memorial Day.
I still need to use the Mole Asses. I promise I will . . . and blog about it!
We could use a Miss Sarah in my family. My parents are 80 have NOTHING planned. Nothing. Then again, last night my neighbor told me I should plan these things for my husband and me. I said, “So soon??!!”
In my many many miles of hiking across Kentucky and Virginia, I’ve come across many of these little, family cemetaries. There were frequently tombstones which could no longer be read, and some toppled over.
A serious question: when Miss Sarah goes to join her family, can she legally be buried in that family plot? A lot of laws have changed, and that’s something she needs to know. But it’s great that y’all will allow her to be buried with her family, even though it’s no longer her property.