Too Much Info

The next major change relating to markers occurs late in the 20th century. Married date is clearly now vital information for the marker! Often the date is placed with intertwined rings, or a heart. “Together Forever” is a favorite phrase used near the marriage date. These are couples who experienced the Depression, a world war, and the prosperity of the 50’s. Nicknames now appear, and engravings of hobbies and interests primarily addressing those of the men. As for the women, well, they are busy cooking, cleaning and childbearing so how can they have time for hobbies.
Bible verses in their entirety now proliferate. Did society truly become more religious? It is perhaps put on as a talisman, to help the dead gain entry in the afterlife? Or is it now cheaper to have more text due to new stone carving methods.
These markers evolved to become very busy with loads of text; my transcription of the markers takes longer. I need to expand the column on my spreadsheet so that I can see it as I type all this information into the little column.
Someone came up with the idea of using the back of the tombstone. Just isn’t enough space ont he front for all this important detail. We’ve got landscape scenes carved on the front, but we can add even more information on the back– names of children and beloved grandchildren. Are there granchildren out there not beloved? Entire stanzas of poetry appear on the back, obscure references and sayings which might be meaningful to family but will puzzle subsequent generations. It is there for all eternity, but will it mean anything to another generation?
Another recent change is that the symbols we use show us the possessions of the deceased. We are materialistic. Maybe we want to take it with us. I’m reminded of the old Pharaohs of Egypt – they did the same thing with their pyramids. Add the beloved possessions and items to help manuver in the afterlife. We now provide a hand of cards with a full house, a sports car, gun and rod, nature scene, needle and thread, football. People choose to display the life they left behind rather than focus on what happens after death, or what they think happens.
Great scenes are now carved on many of the tombstones. These are big stones; a single one is the size of a monument that previously represented an entire family, two generations, from years past. A lot of these scenes are idyllic, nature scenes – forest, lake, evergreens, deer. Our vision of heaven has changed. Our death idyl is a weekend up north, for all eternity. One monument even has a sign carved on the back, typical of those hanging at the driveway entrance to someone’s cottage up north. Are we trying to recreate an afterlife for ourselves, one we most want to find ourselves in. No one puts a picture of a factory or an office building, or angels at the gates of heaven.