Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Plot Both Great and Grand

I walked past the plot where my great-great-grandfather lies buried, the Masonic plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, established in 1883 by Brother John Ross Robertson to provide for the internment of indigent Masons . . . my great-great-grandfather, the indigent who in 1894, had arrived in style at the Queen’s Hotel, who’d once sung lead tenor in the “Messiah” at Massey Hall, taught at the College of Music, and seen his brief tenure here end at the Home for the Incurables.
     No stone then for Thomas James Burley, so I stomped around long enough to be pretty sure I’d made contact.

Image: Cold Shoulder by Shawn Jurek.
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23 comments:

  1. Roy SchulzeNovember 6, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Also posted to Magpie Tales.

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  2. Tess KincaidNovember 6, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    Oh I love that last line!

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  3. The Blog of BeeNovember 6, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    I'm sad that Thomas James Burley was not here for very long but during the time he was, he sure made his mark.

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  4. christopherNovember 6, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Colorful relatives...I have them too.

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  5. C.M. JacksonNovember 6, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Interesting....I want to read more...

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  6. Tumblewords:November 6, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    So intriguing and lovely. The last lines are superb.

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  7. Isabel DoyleNovember 7, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    been there, used to ride my bike all the time, when they were building all thoseapartment blocks on Balliol ... great memories

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  8. CHummelKornellNovember 7, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    Well done! Precisely how our lives may change without notice, renowned to unknown... Love this one.

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  9. JinksyNovember 7, 2011 at 3:34 PM

    But I think we can link our thoughts at any time, any place, into the time line of thoughts of our relations, dead or alive, for don't thoughts spread out the way ripples on water grow in ever larger circles...Where do they end?

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  10. Brian MillerNovember 7, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    stomped around to make sure you had made contact...ha...nice break there at the end...

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  11. BerowneNovember 7, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    I didn't know there were any indigent Masons. :-) Well-written post.

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  12. UnspokenNovember 7, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    Like that ending! Took a turn I did not expect.

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  13. Susie ClevengerNovember 7, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    How sad...life turns out so grand and then a spiral downward...I love the ending...nice work

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  14. izzyNovember 7, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    It was sad for him to lose his status in that way.I have a side to my family that has extremely lofty ideals and some rather dark endings. Thanks!

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  15. AnonymousNovember 8, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    This 100 word thing is interesting.
    Fascinating write here, and to learn of an unmarked burial.
    Jamie

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  16. hyperCRYPTICalNovember 8, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    Love the ending.

    Anna :o]

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  17. ChristineNovember 9, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    Thankyou for this... A life summed up well. Thankyou for stopping by and reading my piece. Not unlikely your GGF stopped by at My GGf's tavern for a pint!!!

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  18. Roy SchulzeAugust 4, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    Also posted to dVerse Poets Pub.

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  19. Brian MillerAugust 4, 2012 at 10:35 PM

    smiles...interesting how life changes like that...he did those things but in the end, ended up there...interesting bit of history...

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  20. AnonymousAugust 4, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    I bet you made contact...terrific!

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  21. marousiaAugust 4, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    Fabulous story

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  22. sharonleeAugust 4, 2012 at 11:00 PM

    A poigant mixture of light dark and clever in this.

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  23. lucychiliAugust 5, 2012 at 2:27 AM

    hehe i like the stomping =)

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