Saturday, April 1, 2023

The "Is It OK To Search For Easter Eggs In A Cemetery?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Began the day as I usually do...by reading my morning newspaper.  I'd be lost if I wouldn't be able to check out all the local as well as national and International news on a daily basis.  Much of the news tells about what is taking place throughout the world while the remainder tells about what is going on in good old Lancaster, Pennsylvania, my hometown.  Read a couple of Trump stories and than began with the good stuff that deals with local news.  A few of the stories dealt with the upcoming Easter holidays and the myriad of Easter egg hunts that take place just about everywhere throughout Eastern United States.  One such egg hunt is to take place at Holly Hill Memorial Gardens in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland.  Seems that the town is going to hold their Easter egg hunt in their nearby Holly Hill Memorial Gardens.  But, some residents are rather upset that an Easter egg hunt will be held among their loved ones who had been laid to rest beneath the same ground where the Easter egg hunt is to take place.  One resident said he thought it rather odd to hold an egg hunt in the vicinity of the beloved gone beyond.  Mrs. Kelly Rutherford had laid her husband to rest in 2020 due to brain cancer and the thought of kids running around the cemetery, as well as her husband's resting place, leaves Mrs. Rutherford "appalled."  How would you feel if you were Mrs. Rutherford?  Well, on this coming April 8, the day before Easter, Holly Hill Memorial Gardens plans to hold their first Annual Easter Egg Hunt starting in the late morning.  There is to be candy, Easter eggs and an appearance of the Easter Bunny.  All to take place where her dear husband is buried.  The cemetery said that, "Our intention is to bring the community together in a respectful and safe environment for children!"  Well, the event's announcement had elicited apprehension, dismay and even anger from a number of the nearby residents.  One woman wrote that the event is "disrespectful," but did say that her late grandmother, who is buried in the cemetery, alway loved Easter and seeing the kids in their dresses.  "If my kids were still young, I would probably take them just to see how it all played out,"  She also said that she suspects that many children think the cemetery is a "spooky" place and might not be so eager to participate.  So...how would you feel if one of your relatives or good friends were buried in the Holly Hill Memorial Gardens?  Would you be upset?  As far as myself...I would be glad to bring my grandchildren for an Easter egg hunt in the cemetery.  So many children are afraid to enter a cemetery due to what their parents have told them about cemeteries.  Many fear what may happen to them if they enter the cemetery.  They just may have a better outlook about the cemetery if they can see they won't have anything happen to them if they can search for Easter eggs in the cemetery.  I believe they can still be taught to be respectful as they wander through the graveyard and that they don't have to be afraid to walk among the tombstones.  But, I can see where some parents may not want their children to participate.  Only problem with that is the children will fear when and if they have to enter the graveyard when a friend or relative may die.  It's OK to teach them respect, but they can still have respect while searching for Easter candy.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

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