As We Are Now

From early childhood I remember numerous family visits to old New England cemeteries. During these visits we would seek out interesting old gravestones, trying to gain from the names, epitaphs and dates of birth and death a sense of the lives and times commemorated.

I still visit cemeteries, but now I seek out interesting modern gravestones and cemetery folk art. What do these artifacts tell us about the people remembered? And what insights into life today do they bequeath to those who will come after us?

The title of this project derives from part of a popular epitaph on old (and some new) gravestones:

“Stranger pause, as you pass by. As you are now so once was I.
As I am now so you must be. Prepare yourself to follow me.”

Over the past few years I’ve posted several galleries for this project. This is a collection of some of my favorites.

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(Clicking on any image will open a slide show.)