I started to tell about the new murals inside this Christian cemetery a few weeks ago.Its address in Jerusalem's old German Colony is 41 Emek Refaim; one possible translation of the street name is "Valley of Ghosts."
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Many of the gravestones have biblical quotations, especially from the Psalms (but I'm saving those for PsalmChallenge meme).
Some, the more modern ones, have sentimental words like "See you soon, darling," or "We miss you," or "Gone home."
But my favorite is the home-spun wisdom on former British soldier Johnny Shortlidge's stone:"WE DO WHAT WE GOTTA DO AND THEN WE GO."
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This post goes to Our World Tuesday, to Signs, Signs, and to the growing and fascinating new cemetery meme Taphophile Tragics.
Oh, I do like Johnny's philosopy of life.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, guess the old chap got it right.
ReplyDeleteThese are the kind of epithets one reads about but rarely sees. Good one!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Johnny must have been a fun guy to know. I wish he could have lived longer though.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely got to love Johnny...this is it and that's the way it is!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity Johnny didn't hang around a bit longer ... love his epitaph!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful when people's sense of humour is preserved even after death. So refreshing to see these gravestones instead of grandiloquent stuffy ones...
ReplyDeleteLovely captures, Dina!
My all-time favourite gravestone farewell said "I TOLD YOU I WAS SICK".
ReplyDeleteWhat a moving thing to say. This will surely remain much in my mind.
ReplyDeletePlease have a good Tuesday.
Very true.
ReplyDeleteSimple and to the point - I wish politicians would take note!
ReplyDeleteStewart M - Australia
What kind of man was Johnny? Were these really his own words? We shall never know. I always have to find the courage to go to my husband's grave, because that's the place where I will be buried in a couple of years. I always feel sad being there.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if people choose what will be on their grave stones before they die or if relatives decide afterward. I like what the mummy in The Mummy said as he died for the second time (though he didn't have a grave stone then) ... "Death is only the beginning" :)
ReplyDeleteThere appears to be a certain 'she'll be right' attitude to the placement of markers in that cemetery, Dina. The trees with massive roots are not cooperating, either.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Shortlidge was short-lived: only 58 years. Let's hope he didn't die laughing.
Thanks for the wrap for our meme in your closing here, Dina. I appreciate your continued contribution.
I like that, it says so much more about Johnny than a psalm would have.
ReplyDeleteThat is a fantastic quote. I think Johnny had it quite right.
ReplyDeleteJohnny must have been a very no-nonsense guy. Great epithet.
ReplyDeleteJohnny was a dutiful man I think, but were did he think he went, home or here under a stone.
ReplyDeleteFunny, sounded an Americanism to me more than British. I wonder how many of us actually do do what we need to do before we go? ;-) Lovely, poignant post.
ReplyDeleteChrissy at Manchester a photo a day at Mancunian Wave
Words to live by. And apparently die someone young by, alas.
ReplyDeleteStrange and also a bit funny, obviously without any disrespect...
ReplyDeleteThat is a true quote, Dina.
ReplyDeleteFrozen greetings.
A very interesting date...on 6 September 1986, terrorists gunned down 22 Jewish worshippers and wounded 6 during Shabbat services at Neve Shalom.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good one. It must be hard to be funny when someone close has died.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that you are a member of a wonderful organization. I am not jewish but I love the Israel I visited. Yes, it was Istanbul.
ReplyDeleteGarry, was your visit a while ago? I'm glad you found things and spirit to love in Israel.
ReplyDeleteGreat title, Dina! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderfully succinct and true!
ReplyDeleteLiterally LOL! Love it.
ReplyDeleteI think he got it right.
ReplyDeleteJohnny got it right.
ReplyDelete