04/04/2026
I'm still home without power after the ice storm, but my sweet kid checked on Forest Cemetery for me. It was hit pretty hard, but miraculously, most stones seemed to have escaped major damage.
If you're in a cemetery, please avoid any fallen or hanging branches- especially if they're touching stones. Unstable stones can be extremely dangerous, so err on the side of caution and don't risk injury due to curiosity. You could also damage the stone and most are irreplaceable.
Yes, it's sad to see so many damaged and broken old trees after storms. I try to remind myself that like humans, trees have a lifespan that often ends by accident or disease, and like the loved ones resting below the earth, we're never ready to say goodbye. 
Luckily, friends of the cemetery have been planting dozens of new trees, so as the old ones fall away, the younger ones' roots grow deeper and take over. Hopefully we have many decades with these new beauties!
I also feel SUPER justified in taking literal thousands of photos of the trees and stones at our cemeteries; it makes it a bit less sad when they're captured forever. I'll share some of those pictures once I get out and see the difference for myself. They may not be my happiest "before and after" photos, but they're just as important to me as the stone transformations.
I hope you've all stayed safe and warm during this icy event. Thank you to the utility workers, firefighters, and to every essential worker who keeps our county running. You're appreciated!
