’Til Next Time | Memory is a precious thing

— My husband’s interest ran to ghost towns out west. He wanted to know the history, what ore was mined and how it was mined. I checked out a book from the Adult Wellness library titled “Historic Ghost Towns of the Old West.” I’ve been in several of them, some have been reconstructed for tourists and some left to rot down.

This tombstone poetry on a stone at Copperapolis, Calif., took my eye:

“Stop traveler and cast an eye as you are now - so once was I as I am now, so you must be. Therefore prepare to follow me. Prepare for death and make no delay. I in my bloomwas snatched away. When death did call me to depart I left my friends with an aching heart.”

The only other legible part on the stone was the age 5 months and 24 days.

With the price of engraving today we don’t see much of this. We spent one whole afternoon reading the epitaphs on markers at Tombstone, Ariz.

The Rev. Mat Daniels made a statement Sunday that etched itself in mymind. He said: “Memory is a wonderful thing.” Now that left me wondering where do you go with that.

But he laid out how there are good memories and bad ones, ones we wish we could forget forever.

Memory sometimes wanes. It’s sometimes necessary, like remembering how to eat or chew. Of course, it all worked into the Memorial service, but I have this statement in my memory.

About a year ago, I started a long climb back to good health and memory was one of the obstacles to conquer.

Our prayer list is long but this week we added Dottie Bledsoe. After leaving the hospital, she took residence at Ashley Health and Rehab. I’m quick to say that is a good place if you have to be in one.

Also, Jay Lynch could probably enjoy a greeting card about now. His address is Box 765, Pea Ridge, AR 72751. John Miser and Lois Kinney are both recovering from cataract surgery.

There will be another church bowling night June 12.

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Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years. She can be contacted through The TIMES at 451-1196 or [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 06/02/2010