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The Mysterious Ms. Wasson


All four of my grandparents are buried in Monmouth (IL) Memorial Garden. Its one of those flat stoned cemeteries that were in vogue 50 years ago. Drive by during Memorial Day weekend and the sea of fake, plastic flowers look more like a crayon factory blew up than a 'garden' setting it was originally intended to be.

Right down the road is Monmouth Park where two summer car shows are held. I have made it a habit to walk over and visit the graves and do whatever one is supposed to do: look down at the old metallic plates that serve as tombstones and wistfully recall when as a kid. It is more a remembrance of me, it seems, than them, sadly recalling my youth, and these people who, however briefly, helped start me on my way.


While walking I once came across the final resting place of a Ms. Vera Wasson. Inscribed is this epitaph: "Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Now I rest in peace." Since finding this grave I have been curious to know why such an enigmatic final remark to the world. Was she notorious for wrong choices? Was she locally renowned? Was she chronically depressed, weak-willed, or simply giving her assessment of life? Was she just like us, commenting on life's irony or do these words symbolize a life of torment? This mystery woman shall remain thus.
Click on picture to enlarge.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 17, 2008 at 10:19 PM

    I think this was Aunt Pearl's best friend.

    ReplyDelete

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