Erected by Daniel McCoy In Memory of his Dear Beloved Wife Sarah

I went out to the cemetery this morning with my mother. This stone says, "Erected by Daniel McCoy in Memory of his Dear Beloved Wife Sarah Who Departed This Life Augt. 5 1867 Agd 31 Years.

I owe so much to Sarah. If she had not died in 1867, I would not have been born.

Daniel McCoy is my great-grandfather -- my father's paternal grandfather. He came to Kansas from County Antrim in Ireland. Sarah (Cunningham) was Daniel's first wife who died, I have been told, in childbirth. A little flat stone (not visible here) at the base of this may be for her baby. They had no other children. Daniel married Sarah's half sister, Rose Ann the next year. Rose Ann is my great-grandmother.

The little yellow flower at the base is not a dandelion. My mom and I usually buy some little yellow and orange marigolds. Some we actually plant (knowing that the next time they mow they will be gone) -- on my father's grave and my grandparents. Others we just snip off a flower and put it into the ground with some water -- to last through the weekend, if it's not too dry. I always put one on Sarah's grave.

p.s. I just posted the original photo in my Alternates album.
http://365project.org/mcsiegle/alternates/2013-05-25
If you have time, I'd appreciate opinions on the processing in this version.

[Doris]

Nice that you pay tribute to her this way. I was in a huge old cemetary today, but to take pictures, not to visit anyone in particular. I could have stayed all afternoon.

[Laurie]

Wow! What an interesting story! I like the selective color in the shadow.

[Mary Siegle]

@luvmynynix @twistergirl Laurie, thanks -- yeah. it's the stories I love. Doris, I know what you mean about cemeteries. They are fascinating places, even the ones where I don't have anyone I know buried.