Getting Yelled At in the Cemetery

Dark and rainy today, stereotypical November weather. I'm not sure how I'm going to exercise the dog, it's so miserable outside. The forecast predicts light rain all day. As long as we're inside, I kind of like it.

Yesterday Olga and I got back to the cemetery, and we had an interesting walk through a wooded area that in summer is thick with impenetrable foliage. Now that winter is arriving the leaves have fallen and there's more visibility and freedom of movement. Olga was very excited by the possibility of squirrels.

Large parts of the cemetery have been allowed to grow over with trees and brush, which I think is kind of cool. I guess the graves there are older ones that are unlikely to be visited today.

After we re-entered the grassy areas, I got an earful from a couple in a passing car about letting Olga wander the cemetery off-leash. They were brassy and vulgar. "This is a f-cking cemetery!" the woman yelled. The man added, "How would you feel if a dog took a sh-t on your grave?!" I was so proud of the way I handled it. I stayed very calm, pointed out to them that I had a bag at the ready, and that Olga was hardly alone -- in fact there were four or five dogs roaming the cemetery off-leash with their owners at that very moment. "I don't care! You're the one that got caught!" the woman yelled. I said, "I don't know what else to tell you," and walked away -- with Olga, still off-leash.

Some people. Sheesh. I mean, if a dog pooped on my grave, would I care? I'm pretty sure not. Especially if someone picked it up right away. Don't the birds and squirrels and foxes and rabbits poop there already? What's the big deal?

I'm going to assume they were there mourning someone, and that pain was the source of their anger and emotion. Olga and I just happened to be on the receiving end of it. (And technically they're correct -- signs in the cemetery say to keep dogs on leads. But no one does, so I've always believed that to be a flexible rule.)

The marigolds that in summer adorn the second grave from the right in the row above have died back. They were still blooming just a few weeks ago. Funny how things change so quickly.

Last night Dave made dinner for Pete, a coworker, and his wife Laura. (You may remember we went to their wedding in June.) He pulled together an incredible meal, including a halibut dish with a green pea beurre blanc and braised beef short ribs. I did one load of dishes last night before bed, and when I woke up about 5 a.m. I did another load before going back to bed. Now the house is in order and we are ready for a quiet day of hibernation!