I'm moving this Blog

Dear people,

I'm finding it difficult to manage more than one personal blog (along with others for other folks and organizations).
I applaud those of you who can!

In an effort to simplify my online life, I'm going to port over the posts from this site to my main blog - http://geder.posterous.com

I hope you will join me there for new content as well.

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Resume This Project!

Today I went to the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Santa Fe to jump-start this project.
It's a small cemetery, so I photographed all of the headstones.

Here's the most interesting interment:Samuel W. Ketchum
Cowboy, Husband, Father & Outlaw
Born Jan 4, 1854 Caldwell Co, TX
Shot & Captured by Posse And
Died Santa Fe, NM July 24 1899
Brother of Thomas E. "Black Jack" Ketchum

My guess is that he's not African American. There may not be any AA's in this cemetery, but I still have to check them all out.

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

January 20th, 2009 - I Learned Something!

On January 20th, I participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Rotunda at the New Mexico State Capitol, in Santa Fe.

What I learned.

"...[keynote] Speaker Harold Bailey, executive director of the New Mexico Office of African-American Affairs, called for an end to the phrase “tricultural society” in New Mexico, reminding the audience that former Gov. Bruce King declared New Mexico a multicultural state in 1979..."
See 'Thank you Dr. King'; http://santafe.com/Pages/2288

When we came to Santa Fe in 2006, everyone was saying 'Tri-Cultural State'. Now I learn that it was declared a 'Multi-Cultural State' 30 years ago!

It's good to know that my concerns were actually addressed a couple of generations back.
I will still go forward with this project. The state's government has the right perspective, we just need to get all of the citizens and cultural leaders on this same page.

I'm up for it!

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Spoonriver Anthology- Great Read for Graveyard Rabbits!

A must read for Graveyard Rabbits!

From Amazon.com:

This complete and unabridged Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Classic(tm) of Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology features an extensive glossary and reader's notes to help readers better understand and fully appreciate Masters' work.

IN THE TOWN OF SPOON RIVER, ILLINOIS, the dead have been given one final opportunity to speak to the living in the form of epitaphs. Take a stroll through the graveyard; the words on each tombstone create an image of the way the person's life was lived. Together, these tombstones tell of a community that strove for perfection and goodness and relied heavily on faith-but, things don't always turn out as planned... Discover their secrets, heartaches, and regrets; sympathize with their guilt, anger, and sorrow; mourn with those the dead left behind; wander through the history these individuals made through their actions.

Ultimately, this cemetery tells of lives that were far from perfect- sometimes, they were even far from good. Through their epitaphs, it becomes clear that these townspeople-neighbors, friends, lovers, family members, and even murderers-saw each other very differently, but now, they all are at rest, as equals, sleeping on the hill.

It's a fun and easy read. You'll enjoy it!

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Happy Holidays

Happy holidays folks,

Due to the holidays, this site has been a little on the inactive side.
I plan to add new content in January.

Stay tuned!

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors'

Odd Fellows Cemetery; Santa Fe, NM

One of the nicer plots

Today, I visited the Odd Fellows Cemetery which is just behind the Fairview Cemetery. There, I met up with a fascinating lady, Barbara.

As we walked around the grounds, Barbara gave me a brief history of the cemetery. She also told me of her efforts to clean up and preserve the place. She is using discarded slate and stones to outline the unmarked graves and to create a pathway for visitors.

We had a wonderful time swapping stories. She couldn't tell whether or not African Americans were buried there. In fact, she intimated that the records need to be compiled to determine who actually is interred. I offered to help whenever I can. It was a good visit.

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Alderetes in Memorial Gardens Cemetery; Part 2

Funeral Services and Memorials
The New Mexican; newspaper
Saturday, January 6, 2007

Mildred Alderete-

Was born on September 3, 1919.

She traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, in the West Indies, at age 11. She returned to Havana at age 23, where she met M.B. (Sonny) Johns and his wife, vacationing at Varendo Beach. They offered her a view of the Windy City and later, Santa Fe. One year later Alfonso was also sponsored.

Mildred and Alfonso were married at ST. Anne Catholic Church by Msgr. Rabbit.

Mrs. Alderete graduated from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing and was employed by the hospital. She fell in love with the Pediatric Unit, where she spent most of her 23 year career with the children.

Mrs. Alderete is survived by her spouse, Alfonso; daughter, Gwendolyn Moore and spouse L.T. Moore of Ponciana, FL; Alfonso's sisters, Adelina, Eva Cuesta and family of New Rochelle, NY; and cousin, Muriel Spencer of Toronto, Canada.

She was predeceased by her mother, Alice Newby, who spent 30 of her 93 years in Santa Fe; son, Mario Alfonso, who passed after 14 months, and son, Mario Giovanni, Lance Corporal United States Marine Corps, who passed away at age 28.

In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions can be made to: St. Vincent Hospital Foundation office for the Pediatric Department, 455 St. Michaels Drive, Santa Fe New Mexico 87505. Nancy (505) 820-5209.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, January 7, 2006, at McGee Memorial Chapel at 4p.m. where a rosary will be prayed at 5p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 8, 2006, 10a.m. at Santa Maria de la Paz with Fr. Adam Ortega and Father Frank Pretto concelebrating Mass. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. There will be a reception after at the Eagles on Early Street.

McGee Memorial Chapel
1320 Luisa St
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 983-9151
------------------------
A good friend shared this newspaper clipping with me.

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"