Winner! It's hard to top this yard for its authenticity, scope, and overall design. It's too bad that realty company Berkshire Hathaway had to destroy sight-line continuity with its sign, but hey--that's business. And you know what President Calvin Coolidge (famous dead guy said), "The business of America is business."
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Nice. The gravestones tie in even better with Día de los Muertos (= Day of the Dead). But, of course, Halloween is linked to the same origin. In Spain, there is no Day of the Dead as they celebrate it in Mexico; people traipse off to the cemetery and leave flowers. The more devout attend mass as well. In Mexico, it is otra cosa, something else altogether. They sell candies in the shape of skulls and eat “pan de muertos” or “bread of the dead”, sometimes baked in the shape of a skull and crossbones. It took me a while to assimilate these customs. Mr. O. explained that the more intricate details of this holiday are observed mostly only in small towns, like the one he grew up in: many people still prepare the “altars” for the deceased, which contain photos and other relics that represent the person who has passed on, as well as a dish of their favorite food. Luis confessed that, as a child, he always waited until his grandmother wasn’t looking to help himself to a few bites of the delicious food put out (which was going to go to waste, anyway.) Others have told me that when they visit the cemetery, they set up a proper picnic near the person’s grave and talk of the person’s life and how they remember them. I found that somewhat creepy at first (the picnic being right at the gravesite), but have come to reconcile this with something akin to the spirit of a wake, where people share memories and anecdotes about a loved one who has passed on. Certainly it is more uplifting than women dressing up in the sleazy nurse costumes and getting drunk beyond belief.
ReplyDeleteSidebar: Email in the works. Forgive the long absence.
Ha! Yes, this yard DOES win!
ReplyDeleteRegarding Ortizzle's comment above - I read a Tess Monaghan (Baltimore private investigator) book set in Austin. It had a lot of detail about the Day of the Dead - VERY interesting!
Pity that the realtor's sign wasn't created to look like a tombstone. That would have been perfection. Although as it stands, this Halloween-oriented property isn't half bad! Wonder who'll buy it?
ReplyDeleteAlly Bean--I thought the same thing! This property is a duplex; it's as neat as a pin, and it's on a quiet, pleasant street. I think it will sell in a relatively short time.
ReplyDeleteBug--At least it's the Winner right now. Who knows what I'll see in the next several days on my strolls/jaunts? Or what YOU'LL see?!
Ortizzle--Whew! Glad you're still drawing breath. Whenever I think of Dia de los Muertos, I think of that eerie scene from A Streetcar Named Desire when Blanche opens the door in the midst of her mania and the flower seller is standing there repeating that phrase, "flores para los muertos" in the most haunting voice. Such a terrific movie! Tell me that you've seen it.
I could never, ever observe such morbid customs as the Mexican Day of the Dead. As you know, Halloween alone disgusts me, and I abhor most rituals surrounding death such as funerals, cemeteries, etc. It all seems so undignified and ... well, I'll leave it at that.
I look forward to your eventual communication, but don't feel obligated. Now that I know you're alive, that's settled.