Day 48 of 365 days. 317 days left to go.

Friends,

Here’s your random Saturday Historical fact that you didn’t know you needed to know.

Techinacally, no was burned at the stack. But that doesn’t make it any better. Let’s take a moment to remember those who suffered during this dark time in American history

• Bridget Bishop – Died June 10, 1692 (aged 60), execution by hanging.
• Sarah Good – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 39), execution by hanging.
• Rebecca Nurse – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 71), execution by hanging.
• Elizabeth Howe – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 57), execution by hanging.
• Susannah Martin – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 71), execution by hanging.
• Sarah Wildes – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 65), execution by hanging.
• Rev. George Burroughs – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 42), execution by hanging.
• George Jacobs Sr. – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 83), execution by hanging.
• Martha Carrier – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 49), execution by hanging.
• John Proctor – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 59), execution by hanging.
• John Willard – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 35), execution by hanging.
• Martha Corey – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 72), execution by hanging.
• Mary Eastey – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 58), execution by hanging.
• Mary Parker – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 55), execution by hanging.
• Alice Parker – Died September 22, 1692, executed by hanging.
• Ann Pudeator – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 70), execution by hanging.
• Wilmot Redd – Died September 22, 1692, executed by hanging.
• Margaret Scott – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 77), execution by hanging.
• Samuel Wardwell Sr. – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 49), execution by hanging.

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble

William Shakespeare- Macbeth

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

 Day 41 of 365 days. 324 days left to go.

Friends,

Here’s your random Saturday Historical fact that you didn’t know you needed to know.

When the original 3 Musketeers candy bar first hit the market in the 1930s, it came in a three-pack featuring different flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. They had to cut down to one flavor, however, when World War II made rations too expensive.

Whoever thought a tiny candy bar should be called fun size was a moron.

Glenn Beck

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

 Day 40 of 365 days. 326 days left to go.

Friends,

Do you think that when President Roosevelt proposed Daylight Savings Time back in 1918, he knew it would become the topic of conversation twice a year for the rest of time?

Or is it just a thing here in the U.S?

I honestly don’t know. Maybe it’s just a U.S. debate.

But today is the anniversary of when Congress pushed a standard time in the U.S. by one hour in each time zone, calling it ‘war time.’

Regardless, here’s some cool facts behind the memes:

Germany was the first country to implement it

Guess that answers my question. Germany implemented daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel during World War I. The United States adopted the practice in 1918, but daylight saving time wasn’t standardized across the country until the passage of the 1966 Uniform Time Act. This gave the federal government oversight over time changes. As if the country doesn’t have enough power, now they can control time.

It’s not a worldwide or even nationwide concept

Shout out to those states who fight the establishment! Arizona and Hawaii refuse to cooperate and are on permanent standard time. As are Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. And only about 70 countries.

Interesting side note: The United Nations, for example, recognizes 251 countries and territories. The United States, however, officially recognizes fewer than 200 nations. The most accepted answer is that there are 196 countries in the world.

It wasn’t a farmer’s concept

The agricultural industry fought against the concept after it was introduced in Congress. Why? Because animals are like humans- they are chained to routines. Cows like being milked at the same time every day- regardless of what the government wants. Ever tried feeding a toddler an hour later than usual? It’s not pleasant.

We’ve been saying it wrong all this time

While it’s common to hear people say “daylight savings time” or just “daylight savings,” the correct term is “daylight saving time.” There’s a grammatical reason for keeping “saving” singular, but you can also think of it this way: What are you doing during this time? Saving daylight. Thus, daylight saving time.

Why do we have it?

There are a lot of reasons, some of them more recent than others:

Time zones were first introduced in the United States in 1883 by railroad companies. In 1918, they were codified into federal law by the Standard Time Act. This also included a provision for nationwide daylight saving time to save energy during World War I, but it was repealed a year later due to protests.

Between January 1974 and April 1975, the entire country practiced Daylight Saving Time year-round to combat the energy crisis. In 2005, Congress passed a law that extended Daylight Saving Time by a month to keep energy costs down. I’m seeing a theme in energy costs- unfortunately, my bill is showing a different trend.

In the last five years, 19 states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions for year-round Daylight Saving Time: Colorado, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Delaware, Maine, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Florida.

In March 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021. The bill allows for moving time one hour forward from what the federal government considers standard time, beginning in November 2023. It hasn’t been signed into law yet- but I’m sure it’s part of the latest Budget Plan.

A study by the Brookings Institute has shown that Daylight Saving Time reduces robberies, which tend to happen more under the cover of darkness. With more light in the early evening when people head home from work, there are likely fewer threats.

Anyhoo- we have about a month until we ‘spring forward.’ But does anyone else find it ironic that the government wants to control time?

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

I don’t mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be th eonly I’ve saved all year.

Victor Borge

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

 Day 39 of 365 days. 327 days left to go.

Friends,

Here’s your Thursday tip of the day- Never do anything you wouldn’t want to explain to the paramedics!

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

I wish you a tolerable Thursday. That’s all any of us can hope for.

April Winchell

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

 Day 38 of 365 days. 328 days left to go.

Friends,

Broad overarching statements. Umbrella statements. I hate them. Usually used to make a point in an argument. I won’t lie- I used to be impressed by them.

Hell, I even used them.

But recently, they are pissing me off. Now, I don’t talk about it too much, but I make it clear that I love history. What I don’t mention is that I am classically trained as a historian. Meaning I went to college and got my degree in history and historical preservation.

It’s weird to say that because I don’t work in the field unless you count my books and blogs. There are not a lot of livable wages in the world of history, unfortunately.

But there has been a recent shift in the reader’s world. People are beginning to tiptoe back to historical fiction and historical fantasy. They want to explore the lives of those who came before us. YEA ME!

With that, there has been a shift in people wanting to put their two cents into what they ‘believe’ is the fundamental truth of history without doing their research.

May I present some arguments used against my book and other historians’ labor of love?

Terminology in pop culture

The term baby bump was not invented until the 2000s. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, according to this person, no one in mankind’s history has ever used the term ‘baby bump’ until the publication of What To Expect When You Are Expecting. Or when celebrities made it a photo opportunity in the 1990s. We will ignore the term was used in a woman’s magazine in the 1800s. Must have been a misprint.

Physical reactions are a new concept

No one in the history of the world ever rolled their eyes until the 1980’s. So there was no way a woman would have rolled her eyes in ancient times at a man saying something idiotic. We will ignore the fact that Shakespeare himself used the description in his plays. Of course, he meant it as a sign of lust, but he must have made a mistake. No one ever rolled their eyes until the 1980s.

Shaking hands was not a thing

Men never shook female hands unless they were specifically invited until the 1990s. We will silently ignore the fact that it was customary for a man to take the hand of an elder first as a sign of respect. Or that royalty never extends their hand first. And that there were countless monarchs in all cultures of female persuasion.

Women were not educated

Women were silent lambs who didn’t have an education until the U.S. made it a common practice. This umbrella statement always gets my blood boiling because it completely overlooks all the strong, independent, and intelligent women who were highly educated. They made significant contributions to world history. Yes, women were considered ‘property,’ and the majority did not have a classical education. However, that does not mean all women are uneducated. Stop overlooking the ones who were pioneers in the field of childbirth, nursing, or ran a successful business.

Now, these are just a few I have encountered in the last week- and it’s only Wednesday. I don’t know why this bothers me so much. But it is. And here we are. I am making a silent plea to the masses that when you read historical fiction or a paper written by a historian, stop trying to prove them wrong by using google.com as your source of ‘academic’ research. Most of the time, you won’t win.

Now, there are expectations to the rule. I know that. And sometimes we make mistakes. I have done it myself. But for the love of the gods, the umbrella statements have to stop.

Okay, that’s the end of my rant. I won’t bring it up again. And I’ll stop pointing out flaws on social media. Well, that’s a lie. No, I won’t. But I won’t blog about it again. Maybe.

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

Conclusion is a technique of propaganda. It ensures you cannot do anyting except repeat cliches, the standard doctrine, or sound like a lunatic.

Noam Chomsky

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 105/1500

 Day 35 of 365 days. 330 days left to go.

Friends,

When you count the days of the year, time flies. How the hell do we only have 330 days left? Christmas is damn near around the corner. On the other hand, the first 19 weeks of January almost killed me.

But I digress.

Today is a monumental day in American history. It was the day that the first U.S. president, George Washington, was unanimously elected and all 69 presidential electors. AND it is the anniversary of the Confederate States of America being established.

Why did I bring this up?

Just because. It’s not the reason for this post. I have no desire to engage in politics. I just thought it was a cool fact.

Like did you know that Philadelphia was the capital of the United States under George Washington and John Adams, while D.C. was under construction?

Or that water is not technically ‘wet.’ Scientists define wetness as a liquid’s ability to maintain contact with a solid surface. This means that the water itself is not wet- the object is.

Mount Everest isn’t the tallest mountain in the world. That honor belongs to Mauna Kea in Hawaii- a volcano that is 33,487 feet tall compared to Mount Everest, which is only 29,032 feet. Now, in complete transparency, over half of Mauna Kea is underwater, so climbing the full distance is a no-go.

Ants don’t have lungs. They breathe through spiracles, tiny openings in their bodies.

Snails have teeth. Between 1,000 and 12,000, depending on the species.

Horses are not ‘one horsepower’. Technically, they are about 24 horsepower.

Bananas are radioactive due to their rich potassium levels. BUT… your body also contains a natural level of potassium, so technically, you are radioactive too.

A lightning bolt is 5x hotter than the sun’s surface. So be careful during storms.

And finally…

The “sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is believed to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language. Go ahead and try it…

And until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.

Mark Twain

 Day 34 of 365 days. 331 days left to go.

Friends,

When we think about early America, we are reminded of Puritans, tea, war, and tough times. We may think about Thanksgiving, witches, and long days and short nights. We may remember lost colonies, changing governments, and a flood of immigrants looking for a new life.

Nothing about the time period sounds like a good time.

But the one thing I can say with certainty is that we rarely look back to the 1700s and think of crime.

Or, more specifically, mass murders.

And yet, on February 3, 1780- the U.S. had its first documented mass homicide case.

Now before I get into this case, with what limited information I could find on an early Saturday morning, I want you to read the story below and ask yourself – are monsters created or born evil?

A harsh beginning

Barnett Davenport was born in 1760, received only minimal schooling, and was ‘lent out’ by his father to work as a farmhand by the time he was 7 or 8 years old. By the time he was 15, he was well known as a horse thief and robber.

When he turned 16, he joined the Continental Army under an alias, ‘Bernard.’ He served under George Washington and Benedict Arnold at Valley Forge, Fort Ticonderoga, and Monmouth Court House battles. There are reports of numerous attempted desertions and even a reprimand for setting a house on fire after a battle without orders.

Now, I could only imagine the horrors he experienced, and for a teenager, it might have been too much for his young mind to cope with. He ended up deserting again for a final time.

A new beginning

By 1770, he was broke and homeless and headed to Western Connecticut looking for work using his younger brother’s name, Nicholas, as an alias. Caleb Mallory, a farmer and miller, and his wife Jane took pity on him and gave him a job, clothing, and a new home.

The beginning of the end

But Barnett’s mind was already broken, and he was about to commit the most horrific of crimes.

On the 3rd of Feb, he snuck into Caleb and Jane’s bedroom and proceeded to beat them and their young seven-year-old granddaughter using a swingle (a farm tool) and the butt end of a musket.

She cried out bitterly; she called out for me, or to me, by the name, the pleasant child used to call me, saying, Mr. Nicholas. But I continued paying on; feeling no remorse at killing my aged patrons and benefactors. For the child, I seemed to feel, some small relentings, without remitting in the least, my execrable exertions.

Barnett Davenport – confession

When the rest of the household woke up to the sounds, six-year-old John and four-year-old Sherman, Barnett told them that their grandmother was sick and to go back to bed. He proceeded to go back to the master bedroom, where Mr. and Mrs. Mallory were still alive, and finished the job.

I determined upon the murder of Mr. Mallory and his family, [at] the first opportunity, and this, merely, for the sake of plundering his house; without the least provocation, or prejudice against any of them. The family in which I now lived consisted of Mr. Mallory, Mrs. Mallory, a daughter-in-law, a daughter, and three grandchildren.

Barnett Davenport- confession

But that wasn’t enough.

He changed and left after setting the house on fire, killing the two young grandsons in the process.

The aftermath

He ran. His brother- the real Nicholas, was arrested for the crime and sentenced to Easy Granby’s Newgate Prison for ‘allegedly’ harboring his brother. But Barnett was hiding in a cave in Cornwall, Conn., and was found on 10 Feb while sleeping.

Barnett was sentenced to death preceded by 39 (other articles claim 40) lashes while tied to the back of a cart and paraded about Litchfield Green. While he was never whipped, he was hanged on May 8, 1780, at noon, his body swinging from the gallows until 3 p.m.

His brother, the young Nicholas, served two years of his life sentence and received 39 lashes before being acquitted of his brother’s crime. He was also forced to watch his brother’s execution.

**Side note- other articles claim that Nicholas escaped prison at one point but was re-apprehended. During his release he was ordered to stay in New Milford. He died at the age of 58.

O that others may take warning by my dreadful example and fearful end! And avoid those sins which I have committed, and which by a series of wickedness have led me on to the most awful crimes that ever were perpetrated in this land, or perhaps any other; and for which I must (most justly) suffer a violent death, and I greatly fear, everlasting burning, horror and despair.

Barnett Davenport- confession

Barnett Davenport’s confession wasn’t found until 2010 and was a 14-page explanation of his childhood and crimes. He talked about how he had been obsessed with death for months before the murders. And that he had fantasized about killing since he was a child.

It was a tragedy that was set in motion before he committed the crime.

Friends, this is a horrible story. And I’m not excusing the young Barnett, but it’s another tale that makes me question whether monsters are created or born evil.

Death and despair were his constant companion, and I am willing to wager that he suffered from PTSD from his trauma at a young age and his experiences during the Revolutionary War.

But does that justify his actions? Would his life have turned out differently if he had had mental health treatment?

I don’t know. Sometimes the brain is broken beyond repair.

However, you see the story, innocent lives were stolen, and Americans’ attitudes to crime changed.

And until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

Crimes are not to be measured by the issue of events, buy by the bad intentions of men.

Marcus Tullis Cicero

Friends,

Day 11 of the 31 Days of Myths, Magic, Mayhem, and more…

I will be your host for the evening, and tonight, I want to talk about tombstones. We have already explored some of the best graveyards in the world- but now let’s walk into the cemetery, find the most unique monuments, and discover why we bury our loved ones the way we do.

Quick history into tombstones

Tombstones, or markers for burial sites, have been found dating all the back as far as 3,000 B.C. BUT, it didn’t gain popularity until the mid-1600s, and only then for the middle and upper class. When secular religion became more popular- headstones became all the rage.

It is important to note that there is a difference between gravestones and headstones. Gravestones mark the grave’s spot, while headstones are meant to honor the individual buried. Often, a headstone is nowhere near the body, or the body was disposed of, such as cremation, or was never found.

Another interesting fact is that vertical gravestones are not recommended to be erected until at least six months (some places say 1 year) after the burial to allow the site to settle and harden. Place a gravestone too quickly, and it will sink or fall over.

Why are graves 6 feet deep? Good question- most aren’t. The saying ‘6 feet under’ dates back to the London Plague of 1665 when the mayor ordered that all graves be at least “6 foot deep” to stop the spread of disease. BUT, it is not law. Most graves in the U.S. are only 4 feet deep, but some states only require 18 inches.

Unique Gravestones

William Shakespeare was famous. Like famous, famous. One of his biggest fears was his grave would be disturbed, so he wrote his own curse to ensure eternal peace.

“Good friend for Jesus sake forbear, / To dig the dust enclosed here. / Blessed be the man that spares these stones. And cursed be he that moves my bones.”

John Paul Jones was the father of the American Navy, best known for shouting, “I have not yet begun to fight! But did you know that the location of his body was unknown for over a century?

After the Revolutionary War, he joined the Russian Imperial Navy and retired in Paris, France. He died alone at age 45 and was initially buried in the St. Louis Cemetery, owned by the French royal family. 4 years later, the revolutionary government sold the property- and the cemetery was forgotten.

In 1905, General Horace Porter, the America Ambassador to France, took it upon himself to find the grave and bring John Paul Jones back home. Interestingly, his corpse was perfectly preserved. He had been wrapped in a winding cloth, placed in straw and alcohol, and buried in a sealed lead casket.

Jones was laid to rest at the Naval Academy Chapel on Jan. 26, 1913. The 21-ton sarcophagus is surrounded by columns of black and white Royal Pyrenees marble, supported by bronze dolphins, and embellished with cast garlands of bronze sea plants.

Visitors will find a tiny grave marker bearing the name Tom Thumb in the village of Tattershall, Lincolnshire countryside.

Legend says that Tom Thumb was just over 18 inches tall and lived to the ripe old age of 101, dying in 1620.

Hard to say is this true because myth and reality has become legend. Tom Thumb was an important character in English folklore for hundreds of years, making his first appearance in the 1500s.

The character of Tom Thumb was first introduced in 1621 and is depicted as a canny, cunning boy who uses his size to trick foolish people. In these stories, it was common for Tom to be swallowed by humans and animals, including a cow, salmon, beggar, giant, and even the King of England. But he always manages to escape in some very crude and disgusting ways.

When Ellen Ford’s daughter, Florence, passed away at 10 from yellow fever, she asked that the grave be built with a small window and stairs leading down to the casket.

Florence had been afraid of thunderstorms, and her mother wanted to ensure she could comfort her even in death. So, she had the grave built with metal trap doors above the stairs so she could visit.

Today, the grave remains virtually unchanged, although a concrete wall was added to block the view of the casket through the window to ward off any vandals.

This is the grave of Fernand Abelot, and this has to be one of the creepiest gravestones I’ve ever seen.

Located in Père Lachaise Cemetery, this marker is a reflection of his dying wish… to stare at his wife’s face for eternity.

The epitaph reads: “They marveled at the beauty of the journey that brought them to the end of life.”

I can’t help but wonder- what did he do with the rest of the body?

So, there you go, just a few of the more amazing gravestones that I have found in my research. I would show you some more- but I have a gravestone to plan. The bar has been set high!

I joyfully await the exit- and I hope to never return.

Frida Kahlo

If tales of legend, myth and fantasy topped with a nice cup of coffee interest you, I suggest taking a look at my book The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Now available on

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store website!

Friends,

Day 10 of the 31 Days of Myths, Magic, Mayhem, and more…

I will be your host for the evening, and tonight, lets celebrate the season with some of the best and worst Halloween humor that I could find.

Why did the ghost quit his job?

Because they kept making him work the graveyard shift!

Where do spiders do their Halloween shopping?

On the inter web.

Why do cemeteries have waiting lists?

Because everyone is dying to get in

Why don’t ghost lie?

Because you can see right through them.

What did the Skelton bring to the cookout?

Spare ribs

How do pumpkins quit smoking?

They use a pumpkin patch.

What’s like to be friends with a vampire?

It’s a pain in the neck!

If tales of legend, myth and fantasy topped with a nice cup of coffee interest you, I suggest taking a look at my book The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Now available on

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store website!

Friends,

Day 9 of the 31 Days of Myths, Magic, Mayhem, and more…

I will be your host for the evening, and tonight, we will be diving in the topic of graveyards.

Now, I will start the conversation by saying that some of my fondest childhood memories are ones where my mother would take me to random graveyards. We would walk through the different rows, paying attention to who had been married to whom. Noting the dates and paying our respects to those whose lives were lost too early. We would connect dots and talk about wars, diseases, and any of the other hundred moments in history represented by the gravestones.

Graveyards are the best way to remember and honor history and those who have pass on.

I learned at an early age that there was beauty in death.

Ironically, I don’t want to be buried.

But in my years of research and travel, I have come across some beautiful graveyards, and some that have a strange uniqueness to them.

Okunoin Cemetery, Japan

Okunoin is the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and considered one of the most revered persons in the religious history of Japan. Kobo Daishi is believed to be in eternal meditation as he awaits Miroku Nyorai (Maihreya), the Buddha of the Future, and provides relief to those who ask for salvation. Okunoin is one of the most sacred places in Japan and a popular pilgrimage spot.

While there, take a moment to stop by Torodo Hall (Hall of Lamps) and be amazed by the more than 10,000 lanterns donated by worshipers and lit eternally. In the basement are 50,000 statues donated to commemorate the 1150 anniversary of Kobo Daishi’s eternal meditation.

Neptune Memorial Reef, Key Biscayne, Florida

Coloums guarded by carved lions welcome the dead to their final resting place. The kicker? It’s 40 feet underwater, with stone roads, soaring gates, and crumbling ruins. Originally named the Atlantis Memorial Reef, the lost city is part of an underwater cemetery that also acts as an artificial reef, sponsored by the Neptune Society, a cremation company. Located about 3 miles off the coast of Key Biscayne in Miami, the undersea cemetery was designed by Florida artist Kim Brandell and opened in 2007.

If your worried about being able to visit- don’t! There are plenty of companies that offer scuba-diving excursions and it’s a popular area for boaters.

The Merry Cemetery, Romania

In the town of Săpânţa, Romania, the Merry Cemetery houses over 800 wooden crosses that bear the life stories, dirty details, and final moments of the bodies they mark. Displayed in bright, cheery pictures and annotated with limericks are the stories of almost everyone who citizen who has died.

How did this come to be? Interestingly, it was one man. Stan Ioan Pătraş was born in Săpânţa in 1908; by the age of 14, he had already begun carving crosses for the local cemetery. By 1935, Pătraş had begun carving clever or ironic poems about the deceased in a rough local dialect, including a portrait and how the individual died.

Underneath this heavy cross
Lies my mother-in-law poor
Had she lived three days more
I would be here and she would read / You that are passing by / Try not to wake her up
For if she comes back home
She’ll bite my head off / But I will act in the way
That she will not return
Stay here my dear
Mother-in-law.

Epitaph in the Merry Cemetary

The Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague, The Czech Republic

The Old Jewish Cemetery is not the first Jewish cemetery in Prague – its predecessor was the ‘Jewish Garden’ located in the present New Town of Prague. This cemetery was closed by order of King Vladislaus II in 1478 because of complaints from Prague citizens. Later, it disappeared under the streets of New Town.

It is unclear when exactly the Old Jewish Cemetery was founded but the oldest gravestone is that of rabbi and poet Avigdor Kara and is dated to 1439.

Because Jewish custom doesn’t allow for the abandonment of old graves, and the community wasn’t allowed to purchase grounds to expand the cemetery, a considerable number of graves crammed into a relatively small space.

There are around 100,000 bodies buried there, many of which are marked under various gravestones, denoting that the bodies are stacked 12 deep in many places. As a result, the surface of the cemetery is raised several meters higher than the surrounding streets.

Arlington National Cemetary, U.S.

Arlington National Cemetery, the most famous cemetery in the U.S., is the final resting place for many of our nation’s greatest heroes, including more than 300,000 veterans of every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan.

It contains the remains of more than 300,000 veterans in 70 burial sections and 38,500 remains in the eight columbariums. Section 27 contains the remains of more than 3,800 former slaves who resided in the Freedman’s Village on the cemetery grounds. Freed slaves were allowed to farm on this land from 1863 to 1883, and those who died while residing in the village were buried there.

The most visited area is the Tomb of the Unknowns- a burial vault containing the remains of three unidentified service members, one each from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. A white marble sarcophagus sits atop the vaults facing Washington and is inscribed with three Greek allegorical figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. The Unknown Soldier of World War I was interred on Armistice Day in 1921 after lying in state beneath the Capitol dome after his remains from France arrived. The Unknown Soldiers of World War II and the Korean War were buried on May 30, 1958, after lying in state and each receiving the Medal of Honor. The Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War, interred and presented with the Medal of Honor in 1984, was subsequently identified as Air Force 1st Lieutenant Michael J. Blassie. In 1998, Lieutenant Blassie’s remains were disinterred from the Tomb of the Unknowns and reinterred near his family’s home in St. Louis. Since then, the Vietnam vault has remained vacant. The tomb is guarded continuously by the 3rd U.S. Infantry, the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, also known as “The Old Guard.”

One of the biggest decisions that we have as mortals is to decide where we want to stay for eternity, and how we want to be remembered. It’s a big decision and I invite you to take a look at how other cultures are honoring their dead and make the right decision for you.

“Every life holds an epic tale, even if no one alive remembers it.”

Greg Melville, Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries

If tales of legend, myth and fantasy topped with a nice cup of coffee interest you, I suggest taking a look at my book The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Now available on

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store website!