4/22/14

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter and Earth Day! I know my posting dates have become longer and longer, I do apologize with finals everything is becoming a bit more chaotic than what was normal.

           

So last post I mentioned that for the transcriptions for Union Baker I was hoping to finish, well thankfully I did! But let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m not a math major, for I had figured prior to last Wednesday that I had finished six pages and had eleven left to finish when in all actuality I had twenty pages left. Let me tell you my brain hurt afterwards, but I finished adding in all twenty pages worth of names that day. I was shocked that I finished it all, but I was determined to wrap up that loose end on Wednesday since Friday the office was closed due to it being Good Friday. I discovered that when I am listening to opera like, “Love Never Dies”, I get into the zone. I need to keep that in mind for next semester.

            I think this week may possibly be my last week interning at Volusia County and I don’t know if I am fully ready. I know I will miss the field days the most, I’ve already been researching the cemeteries in my area… This semester is almost over and I believe this is a perfect final semester as a junior at UCF, from giving my first lecture to narrowing down choices for graduate school. It’s been a whirlwind of an adventure. I will continue on down the sentimental path with my next and possibly final installment of my experience as intern this semester.  

4/9/14

I want to apologize for how late the publication of this blog post is, this past weekend I had personal things, including being sick, interfere with posting. In addition, I am sad to say that past Friday (1/4/14) was the last field day for this internship. I cannot believe how quickly the time has past and that this Saturday is the Lemonade Lecture already! April has just flown on by and I am not sure I am ready to be finished with this internship, but all’s well that ends well!

           

            On Wednesday I knocked out a majority of the Union Cemetery Inscription, allowing for only the recently accounted for burials needing to be inputted into the word document. It is a massive cemetery and seeing the 25 pages of names that need to be compiled into the master inscription document appears to be a somewhat daunting task, but I look forward to the feeling of relief I will encounter once I have tackled it.

One of several broken in crypts

      Timing was apropos for I worked on Union/Orange Baker Cemetery Inscription on Wednesday and then one of the first cemeteries we visited on Friday was Union/ Orange baker. My boss has told me how disarray and saddening it is, but nothing can truly prepare you for the sadness that clings to the air. Since this is an African American Cemetery, it is sad to see the state of the cemetery from vandalism to mournful homemade headstones. I’ve seen previous acts of vandalism with obelisks pushed over and headstones broken, but it pales in comparison to Union where actual vaults were broken into and the way to rectify it is by placing plywood on top. However, it is quite evident that the plywood is quite old and is being used as a more permanent fix then it should be. It is maddening to see the state this cemetery is in, when there are so many people buried here. However, there is something sadder then the acts of vandalism-it is the handmade burial markers which include cinder blocks and wood outlining. It is obvious the loved ones of whoever is buried there could only afford those items instead of the ornate granite or marble headstones, it’s so sad that money becomes such a force even in times of despair. I admire that there are people who decided to build something, instead of leaving just a funereal home marker, which will erode away or become lost quite quickly. It just made my heart so heavy to see that Cemetery, and even now it is the saddest and most desolate of cemeteries that I have encountered my entire internship. Union Cemetery is interesting just with the size of it, but the sorrow that permeates throughout cannot be missed nor ignored. 

           

            We also visited Beresford Cemetery, which was in the middle of this clearing just along the side of the road. It was very picturesque and it had a fascinating headstone that was a gigantic black rock. I found it to be so raw and unusual that I think it might be one of my favorite headstones that I have seen. After seeing Union Cemetery and then visiting this one, there was an obvious difference in regards to the upkeep of the cemetery. Which I find horrible, I wish that all cemeteries were all well taken care for and pleasing to visit like Oakdale or Beresford Cemetery. However, life does not work like that and that is why creating awareness in preservation is key: so cemeteries like Union can receive the care and treatment it truly deserves.

            I’ll wrap up this blog for now seeing as I need to start preparing for the Lemonade Lecture on Saturday and wrap up the few loose ends that are still left for me. I know in the last few posts I keep mentioning how I am amazed about how quickly time has gone by, but I feel cannot truly express how shocked I am by it. I have learned a lot from this internship and I am excited to see what all I take with me in regards to graduate school and future jobs.