[scblock]

One of the most memorable things I did recently was explore an old Catholic cemetery above Central City, Colorado with my cousin. It was quiet, cool and sunny. Most of the aspens had dropped their leaves but a few stands were still thick with gold. We wandered through rows of headstones and markers in the fall sun and read the stories they told. Some headstones were more than 100 years old; others were quite new. Some were elaborately carved, while many were nothing more than markers with a name and date. Some were simply carved of wood, not likely to last. A few graves had fresh flowers.

The cemetery told stories of humanity. Most were universal. One headstone was for 5 children under 10, all who died in 1918 or 1919. It seemed likely to be the influenza pandemic, though we couldn't be certain. Another had a short lament from a father for his lost son which led to me opening up to my cousin about a friend I had just lost, who had previously lost his son. Something I needed to talk about but struggled to.

Cemeteries are very human. There is nothing offensive about a memorial for the dead. And in my experience children don't find them scary or morbid at all. And as others have said if they bother you personally then don't go to them.