Thanksgiving is known as a time when Americans gather at the table, with their family and friends, to give thanks for all that they have in their lives.
This festive holiday is, for some, the only time of the year when they see their family.
This year, looking forward to a glutinous Thanksgiving dinner, my mind wandered to those that I have lost over the years.
I do not have the advantage of having these loved ones close enough to visit their place of rest.
This led me to wonder if people commonly visit and remember their departed loved ones on this holiday made specifically for show of gratitude.
In hopes of finding an answer, I visited a local cemetery this year on Thanksgiving Day.
As I drove through the intricate wrought iron gates, onto the grounds, I was struck by the unmistakable peace and serenity which I most often feel when I am surrounded by nature and beauty.
It may sound odd that a cemetery could have this effect on a person, but I found true peace and beauty in this unexpected place.
Lindenwood cemetery had a very powerful impact on me as it is surrounded by a nature preserve and is also one of the oldest cemeteries in Fort Wayne.
As I entered, the crypts of the past came into view.
These all seemed well built, well tended and truly a remarkable site.
I walked up the steps in front of a few of them, steps that seemed to say "Come.
See what I offer you.
See what lay at my end.
" I couldn't resist.
I found one to be the crypt of a mother and her three young children-all passed on the same date.
I thought of my children and how important they are in my life, I would not want to be in a world without them.
I wondered about the father and husband that was left behind on this tragic day and where he lay now.
Why had he not been laid to rest with his family? What caused the deaths of so many family members on the same day? So many questions flew to my mind.
I felt compelled to find some of these answers.
I am fortunate enough to have access to the largest genealogical data-base in the world and thought this to be the best place to search for these answers.
Sadly, no information was found on the names and dates that I searched.
I couldn't stop the pain in my heart brought from knowing that this family not only was separated after such a short time together, but now had also been forgotten in this world.
I gave thanks on that day for this reminder to cherish my family and every moment we spend with each other.
I am grateful for this powerful reminder of how important it is to journal my life, and the life of my children, so future generations may have the opportunity to connect with their past.
Another small building showed a large stain glass window on the back wall.
As I approached, I was struck by the beauty of the picture made of colorful glass, glowing in the dreary light of the day.
Jesus was there, knocking on a wooden door.
I remembered that this picture was painted to represent a verse in the bible: Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you...
" Husband and wife slept, eternally undisturbed under this beautiful window with its inspiring message.
They lived a long life together and the husband passed away a few short months after he said goodbye to his wife.
I gave thanks on that day for the people throughout my life that have served as examples of long lasting marriages.
Those I have known to grow old together have shown me that it is possible to find lasting love.
I also gave thanks that day for being brought up in a home that taught me that scriptures, written so long ago, can still have so much meaning in our lives today.
After exploring and reflecting upon these extraordinary buildings, I decided to wander the gravesites.
I began at what must have been the oldest part of the cemetery.
Interacting with a living timeline of the past has always been my favorite part of wondering historic cemeteries.
I was in awe of the intricate tombstones and sculptures that flowed from hill to hill.
The gravesite memorials of the past were touching and beautiful and seemed to almost stand alone to tell the story of the deceased and their family.
As I walked, I found it was impossible to ignore how many lambs lay over the hills, marking the final resting places of the many children lost over time.
A large section was even named "Baby Land".
I devoted a great amount of time to walking this heartbreaking piece of land; trying to decipher the engravings through the wearing effects of time.
I was touched by the number of graves marked simply as "Baby" in place of a name.
I observed countless sites where a single family seemed to lose a baby every couple of years-mere days after the birth.
This particular portion of the property looked as if a flock of sheep were napping on the hill waiting to be called home by their shepherd.
I gave thanks on that day to the families of the past who suffered through losing child after child.
These tragedies have inspired others to devote their lives to medical research and advancements which have significantly decreased infant and child mortality rates.
I gave thanks on that day for the two healthy, happy little angels that I am blessed to hold in my arms every day.
The many obelisk monuments, spread along the rolling lawn, were an instant visual reminder of the men and women who paved the way for those that live today.
Associated with timelessness and memorialization, these striking markers drew me near to read the names carved thoughtfully long ago; now forgotten.
Moss is plentiful in this part of Lindenwood.
It was apparent that very few of those buried here still had living family to visit and remember them.
Most of the urns and pots set by graves to hold flowers and trinkets have long ago been turned over as they have outlived any who cared to keep them filled.
As monuments of history, I found these graves beautiful and touching.
As the final resting place of people once cherished, I found the general lack of remembrance very upsetting.
I gave thanks on that day for the families that lay their loved ones to rest under my feet.
I am grateful that I was inspired to reflect on the passage of time and that I could stand in that spot, on that day, and be the one to remember the forgotten.
I wandered, reflected, observed and gave thanks for almost two full hours.
In all this time, I almost forgot why I had come to this place to begin with.
I set out to find if people visited the graves of their family and friends on this day of thanks.
It was then that I realized that, although I had seen several cars drive off in various directions, I had yet to see another person or even a flower left discreetly by a grave.
As I came back to the here and now, I noticed that the cars, that in my trance I had just barely noticed passing, had all gone further onto the grounds.
I got back into my car and followed a road which guided me away from the past and into the present.
In great contrast to the place where I had spent two hours, this section was full of people, flowers and trinkets.
People were seen in every direction visiting those they have loved and lost.
It appeared that people do commonly visit and remember their departed loved ones on this holiday made for show of gratitude.
I had no desire to get out of the car at this point; I had found the answer I was looking for.
I stayed inside the car with the windows up and drove slowly through.
I felt that to get out of the car would have been an invasion of something very intimate and personal for both the living and the dead.
More answers were given that day than I realized I had questions for.
I gave thanks on that day for having the opportunity to see so much beauty, history, and love.
I am grateful that I was able to witness time passing before my eyes by moving from one part of the cemetery to another.
Most of all I feel that my search for an answer brought me an amazing blessing: I was able to be the person to remember the people buried in those hills on that beautiful stretch of land.
I am thankful that I was inspired to visit Lindenwood Cemetery that day so the people of the past could help me find so many wonderful things to be thankful for.