Cemeteries, graveyards, boneyards, gardens of repose, or remembrance parks, are but a few of the synonyms given to the places where we humans bury our dead.
It is not a modern practice, nor is it unique to our western culture. There is much to be said about how and why we bury our dead. Since humans began burying their dead over 100,00 years ago, attitudes, beliefs, methodology, and folklore have all changed radically.
For some of us just the word cemetery may cause us to cringe a bit, or inhale a bit more quickly. A few of us may start to sweat a bit. Despite the well-manicured lawns, specimen quality shrubbery and plantings, some of us report at least a sense of uneasiness when visiting burial grounds. Some get nervous, feel dizzy, and event faint. Do you?
For those of you who assertively avoid visiting a cemetery, and who not about to go unless you are being by carried by six strong men and have no choice in the matter…..well you may be a true coimertrophian….one who fears cemeteries! This is a small number of individuals, all of which you are unlikely to meet at Uncle Mortimer’s funeral. (Even if they are mentioned in his will, they will skip the whole thing.)
On the other hand, there are those who enjoy and seek out cemeteries. These taphophiles like nothing more than strolling the garden of a quiet cemetery, reading the stones, making grave rubbings, and photographing and mapping the plots. Others collect epitaphs, imagery, and stone motifs. They love the peaceful setting and deny any fetish with the dead.
Where do you stand on the subject? If invited to a gathering which group would you choose? (It is not wise to base your choice on who is serving the best food and drink.)
If you find this discussion of burial of some interest, you taphophiles will find more detail in the front matter of A Tale of Two Cemeteries. (Page 83 to be exact ) in the new book, Ghostly Tales of Two Rivers .
Those of you leaning more towards coimertrophia will also find information which may help to put your mind at ease….or perhaps not!
Here you can read the documented accounts of peculiar and unexplainable events documented in two local cemeteries here along the Navesink. Both the Greenlight & Fairview Cemeteries have captivating anecdotes to share.

Read it today!!!! Then decide if you are a coimertrophian or a taphophile?
Or perhaps something else????