Argentina, Buenos Aires, Cemeteries, Recoleta Cemetery
That’s for remembrance
I will not be going to my grandmother’s funeral in England next week, so instead I took flowers to a favourite church here in Buenos Aires – the church of the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots (I like the idea that she can undo the knots in our lives). I took a single calla lily and two magenta carnations, the closest shade I could find to Violet, my grandmother’s name. “Violet Vaughan”… I can hear her saying it now, proudly.
But the flower I will forever associate with her is the hydrangea. She had a huge blue bush of them outside the kitchen window of the house she lived in for more than 50 years. If you look in the bottom right corner of this photo from Recoleta Cemetery, you will see why I have chosen to post this Mary with spirals. I have been saving her and I didn’t know why.
There is a serenity in her gaze and in the crossroads of light at the crown of her head. The metal rods reflected from the opposite tomb appear to me as a shield on her arm, protecting. And the spirals all around her and decorating her robes represent the journey we take from birth to death. She is my tribute to my beautiful, quietly mischievous, never complaining grandmother.
Hello Juliana,
Nice fotos you have got there. This one in particular offers an apropriate and touching tribute to a travelling grand-mother…
Jérôme de la milonga,
Un beso
Jérôme, what a lovely surprise! Thanks for tracking down my blog. Glad you like the photos and my tribute to my grandmother. Besos, Julie-Anne
Wonderful post and photo. How synchronous that you had the perfect photograph to dedicate to your grandmother, just waiting in the wings. I love the violets in this picture. So deep and wise. I’m thinking of you and your grandmother today. SC
Dearest Sal, thanks so much for your words. It is strange that I hadn’t posted this Mary before…
Wow, what fantastic symbolism in the photo.
Julie-Anne’s fondness for her grand-mother was touchingly evident when her personal elegy was read out at the funeral.
Oh, I am so pleased to learn of Mary the Untier of Knots.
John, how wonderful to read a comment from someone who was at Nana’s funeral to hear what I wrote about her. Thank you.
Mary Untier of Knots was a new one on me, too, and I love the concept, as well as the amazing pictures of her, holding a ribbon that she is unravelling. All this standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by angels and cherubs, with a serpent at her feet. Now you know!
Julie-anne
I was so touched when I saw this photo and read about your grandmother. The hydrangea in the corner is a beautiful element to the photo and no surprises there why you had been saving the photo. I have a bush in my garden taken from my Nanny’s garden. We call it the Nanny bush. My Nanny died 5 years ago but I carry her in my heart and I know she is always with me. Just as yours will be too, I am sure.
Love from Caroline x
Oh Caroline, thank you for your words. What a beautiful thing, to have your Nanny bush. I’ve got a photo of Nana and me, taken when I visited England this summer, as my laptop background, so I keep seeing her smiling face. Sending love
What a lovely tribute to your grandmother, Julie-Anne. I know she’ll be in your heart, today and always. Hugs.
Katie, thank you for taking the time to read my tribute to my grandmother and for your beautiful message.