Rough and Ready is a mining town in the heart of Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. The town was born in 1849 and named for “Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor. The founder of the town, Capt. A.A. Townsend, served under Taylor in the Mexican War. Rough and Ready was actually an independent republic for all of two months in 1850. The miners who inhabited the town were furious at the imposition of a mining tax and voted to secede from the United States on April 7, 1850. They elected themselves a president and wrote a constitution. By July 4, though, the idea had lost its charm, and the Stars and Bars flew from the flagpole in the center of town and no one seemed to mind.
This cemetery's personality is as unique as the town's. The gravestones are tucked under spreading oak trees under the hot California sun. The graves here are original and sometimes whimsical. Some go out of their way to honor the special quirks or hobbies of the deceased.
I believe these are flower buds. They represent the fragility of life and are often depicted as broken, meaning a life cut short too soon. For this reason, they are often found on the headstones of children. Some of the saddest graves are those of children.
This is my favorite headstone in this cemetery. The hand pointed upwards indicates that the soul has risen to heaven, whatever form heaven may take.
No comments:
Post a Comment