Cemetery Encounter: "You're in Our Place"

This afternoon, I was parked in the local cemetery, where my grandparents are buried, on a certain slip of road beneath a canopy of trees, reading. I have done this before, especially in the summer when it is too hot to stay near my grandparents’ spot. I also walk our dogs around there, and sometimes jog in the area, as others do. In fact, one time I was lucky enough to sight a fox pouncing on its prey (probably a chipmunk) as if it were dancing on that road. And recently, my car has been pelted by nutshells there, dropped by some voracious squirrel - or maybe just an angry tree trying to warn me away (and I should have listened.)

Anyhow, today, a car drove by behind me. It came around to the other end of the little road, and slowly proceeded to approach my car, head-on. I did not know why it did this.

A stately matron exited that car, and came directly to my driver’s window. Her face looked severe as she announced to me, “This is our place (emphasis on our.)" I did not understand why she was telling me that, but it felt as if I had no right to be there that moment.

I blurted out my immediate response, something about there not being a sign there, so I didn’t know I couldn’t be there, and I didn’t mean to cause harm to anyone. To which she said something like, you can’t cause harm to anyone here (emphasis on here.) But finally, she got to the practical point and said they wanted to drive through, and could I move out of the way (emphasis on way.) I told her I was glad to move so they could get through (emphasis sincerely on glad), and backed out to park in another speck of shade around the corner.


Not three minutes later, their car drove out from their road, passed me, and left. Were they upset I was still in the vicinity, or just too upset from our encounter to visit the family graves? I don’t know. I meant no harm, but the whole thing was awkward.

In general, I try to be understanding and I am one to respect rules and other people’s feelings whenever possible. Maybe if they had simply asked if I would please move so they could make their visit, it would have been more relaxed. Which brings to mind just how difficult human communication can be. How easy to come to bad feelings. And that is even when we supposedly speak the same language. (I should have done better.)