My daughter and I both love “The Walking Dead” on AMC. When she was getting ready to head off to college, one of the things she sad about what that we wouldn’t get to watch “The Walking Dead” together. Skype to the rescue! Most Sunday nights will find us in front of our respective TVs and laptops, watching it “together.” (It’s especially fun when there’s a 4-second difference between our two TVs.)
She has also been to more cemeteries than most people her age. (Some moms take their little girls to Build-a-Bear. I took mine to cemeteries. Don’t judge.)
Confederate tombstones, Camp Chase Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 8 Oct 2004.
The March 9 episode of “The Walking Dead” featured the characters Daryl and Beth. Early in the episode, they walk through a cemetery. (Yay! A cemetery!) They stop to look at a tombstone; all the audience can see is the back of it.
The tombstone they’re looking at appeared to be white marble and was shaped like the ones here at Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery. Wanting the zombie apocalypse to be historically accurate, I said, “That better be a Confederate tombstone they’re looking at.”
My daughter, via Skype, replied, “Yeah. Union tombstones would be rounded on the top.” She’s exactly right.
It was indeed a Proud Mom Moment.
[UPDATE: See this post for a quick primer on Civil War tombstones.]
Parenting. You’re doing it right.
Thanks, Jodi
Amy, such an awesome story. I can relate! My daughter is in college in DC and every time I visit we go to the National Archives! My son loves the Walking Dead.
How considerate of your daughter to go to school near a great archive! You get to combine visits and research trips all in one! I tried to convince my daughter to go to college at Indiana/Purdue at Fort Wayne, but she wouldn’t go for it 😉
Loved your story! My two children have followed me through many Georgia cemeteries. They often told their friends how they go on vacation and visit cemeteries. I think they actually enjoyed it.
At least they didn’t tell their friends that they went on vacation and visited dead people. That could be awkward.
Love it!!
Great story and great mom moment!!
Kids can surprise you with what they pick up when you think they’re not really paying attention.
Totally awesome! My sons and I are huge Walking Dead fans, and they go to cemeteries with me as well, so I totally “get” your post!
Yay! I knew someone would totally understand! (Actually turns out to be more people than I expected!)
I had to laugh Amy. My daughter claims she is permanently damaged from cemetery visits, specifically having to pee in discrete places in remote country cemeteries. Now mind you, she loved to do tombstone rubbings. She also claims to have something called “copier finger” from having to put the copy button repeatedly:) Some of our best memories are of when my Mom, now gone, me and my daughter went on some of our “explorations” together. What I’d give for just one more of those now.
I’m not sure how we managed to avoid having to find “discrete places,” but somehow we have. And I think all of us have that sense of “what I’d give for just one more“…
That’s fantastic. Love it!
I have not heard of the program. Please advise where I can view it? Is it on cable?
It’s a show on AMC and is based on the comic by Robert Kirkman. It’s set in the zombie apocalypse and follows a group of survivors as they try to figure out what it means to be alive when everything you know is gone. I believe it’s available on Netflix. If you start watching, start from the beginning. (Be advised — there are scenes that are not for the faint of heart.)
Great story. As a fan of The Walking Dead (even though I close my eyes a lot!) and a member of Find A Grave, I can totally relate. You are did a wonderful job with daughter. I take my son on my cemetery visits, he is a great navigator. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
Thanks, Bernita! I’m glad you enjoyed it
Awesome! I only have sons. They tolerate my genealogical endeavors but don’t share my love. If I ever have a moment like that I will definitely be dancing about it.
Have hope! You never know what little nugget of genealogical goodness is taking up a wrinkle of their brain!
Great thought – I look forward to seeing the fruits one day.
The story goes that Confederate stones are pointed to prevent Yankees from sitting on them.
That’s how the story goes. Whether or not it’s true is open for debate 😉