Headstones (ongoing)

[Ian]

some of mary cooley's inscription seems to be drawn from a lyrical poem/hymn by isaac watts:

The heavens invite mine eye,
The stars salute me round;
Father, I blush, I mourn to lie
Thus grov'ling on the ground.

My warmer spirits move,
And make attempts to fly;
I wish aloud for wings of love
To raise me swift and high.

Beyond those crystal vaults,
And all their sparkling balls;
They're but the porches to thy courts,
And paintings on thy walls.

Vain world, farewell to you;
Heaven is my native air:
I bid my friends a short adieu,
Impatient to be there.

I feel my powers releas'd
From their old fleshy clod;
Fair Guardians, bear me up in haste
And set me near my God.

[Edward]

... might I suggest that you find a concrete task for any of us to attend to that would be helpful for the work? We are all adults now. We are quite capable of doing all this work. Some just don't know where to start. If we could be more productive and promoting instead of chastening, I would so appreciate it. Thank you.

I am sure Ian will come up with a detailed list of assignments that can keep you busy for years, no later than, oh, the weekend I bet.

[John]

Here is an assignment:

1. Read the entirety of this thread starting with the initial post. Read with an open, willing mind.
2. Study the headstones for which we already have photos and documentation.
3. Study the names of our ancestors for whom we do not yet have pictorial documentation of a headstone.
4. Creatively consider how to discover and acquire pictorial documentation of a headstone.
5. Find pictorial documentation of a headstone.
6. Share your work, questions, research, roadblocks on the website

[John]

I heard about Lily's trip up to Salt Lake with the girls to visit the Family History Library. Heard of some successful research. Thank you thank you. Kudos. I'm very excited that we may actually have some breakthroughs on our German line. Pardon my particular thrill.

[Ian]

yeah the kids are happy that we have an ancestral line named bauser.

[Steve]

That's almost as cool as my sixth great grandfather "John Action." I like to call him Johnny.

[Ian]

i hadn't heard of johnny action before, looks like g.i. joe.

[Steve]

Yes, I believe that's him! Finally, I can upload an image to replace the generic placeholder.

[Ian]

not as cool though as johnny canuck, canada's fighting soldier.

[Steve]

Well, I can't be certain that Johnny Canuck isn't further down the line. You've motivated me to persist in the work!

[Ian]

johnny canuck looks like a deserter, with that surprised/scared look on his face.

[Steve]

His expression is more like the man who has never seen combat—never experienced the true, grisly horrors of war. Which is probably pretty accurate.

[Ian]

his unique ability to move into 1001 positions will avail him nothing when the time comes that he must engage in armed hand-to-hand combat.

[Steve]

Still, it cannot be denied that it's been said of the man that he had "exceptional value."

[Angela]

those action figures are amazing! And I've enjoyed the thoughts on johnny canuck's qualifications for war.

also, lovely poems on the cooley's headstones!!