Dress Rehearsal

Dear Liza,

We are fast approaching Halloween, and the Lone Fir Cemetery’s Tour of Untimely Departures is coming soon! Saturday was our dress rehearsal, and it was a treat.

There aren’t any specific costumes required for the Tour guides, but some sort of old fashioned, mostly black formal wear seems to be most popular. There were 37 of the 60 participants at the rehearsal, and most in some level of costume. Everyone looked so good!

The day was very chilly and I realized I will need to use my long underwear under my skirt and blouse, because the real tour runs past sunset, and rain is likely next Saturday.

We got to see many of the actors in costume, telling their subjects’ stories of life and death. Jeff Cole did a wonderful job portraying Charles Schoppe, a police officer who was shot in the line of duty on the day before he was to retire from the force.

Janice Sellers portrayed Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy, the first woman to practice medicine in Oregon and head of the public health department. She fought for healthier milk and sanitation laws.

Dr. Lovejoy lived to a ripe old age; her “Untimely Departures” were her loved ones: her husband, son, and brother all died young.

I got home, cold and worn out, after just three hours of rehearsal. The day of the Tour, I’ll be on my feet for six hours! I’ll make sure to take snacks and rest in between tours.

I love adventure, but I’m no spring chicken.

Love,

Grandma Judy