On my way to the bus stop I pass this shrine tucked away behind the church. Just a few yards from where we live is the local cemetery. Some might find it spooky but it actually looks bright and attractive and there are nearly always visitors there. The shrine is always well kept and the flowers fresh too.
I rarely have my camera with me now that I'm using the buses (too much to carry) but I had it with me today when I went to my French class. Somebody had left a shopping bag full of fake flowers at the shrine.
I found out last week why the church bells ring so often - for weddings and funerals. It didn't really occur to me that by living near the cemetery we might see more than our fair share of hearses! One went by me as I came out of our close but it didn't spook me as they usually do probably because it was so beautifully decorated. There was no entourage, only the hearse but as I passed the church all the mourners were outside laughing, hugging and chatting - not a sad face to be seen. I thought that having a happy send off would be the best kind of funeral but then again maybe it was some old tyrant that they were happy to see the back of?!
The following day, I was walking towards the church, laden down with shopping bags, with no-one else around when suddenly the bells started ringing and out of the church came the bride and groom. They looked like a vision and the bride was dressed in a fabulous strapless cream dress. We almost walked into each other and I thought the juxtaposition of the old and the new wife kind of amusing!
1 comment:
I enjoyed the story and the interesting juxtapositions of you passing by the church and seeing the bride leaving the church one day and the deceased leaving another. I think I'd like the regular reminders of the church bells to celebrate life!
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