Panama City, Florida

National Capitals on American Soil ~ Paris:  In the late 1600s and early 1700s, Paris' chief rival was Amsterdam, not London, which was still a blip on the map of the future. When it came to building an overseas empire, however, Paris duked it out with London and both exceeded expectations. What was the capital of France when the British lost their hold on North America (thanks to the French)? If you said Paris, you would be right. It has always been the capital of France. In fact, it was the nucleus around which France was assembled. If you want to learn something more about the city, consult Geographically Yours. Forest Lawn Cemetery. [2018]

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Instead of a Dash – A Bird:  What would normally be a dash between dates is a hummingbird. He has probably just been nectaring from the forget-me-not above his head. What tales is our feathered friend telling you about such a "loving mother"? All tombstone icons have stories to tell of those interred. Beal Memorial Cemetery. [2017]

Destin, Florida

Lighthouse Theology 1:  Matthew 5:16  ~ "Let your light so shine . . ." NKJV ~  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Destin Memorial Cemetery. [2017]

Palm Harbor, Florida

Cemetery Visitors:  These women are learning that not many options exist for floral displays when the departed has chosen a mausoleum as the final resting place. Conformity reigns supreme just as it did in the lawn cemeteries of the 1960s. Curlow Hills Memory Garden. [2014]

Destin, Florida

Cemetery Visitors:  He walks here regularly. It gives him exercise, but it also gives him the opportunity to be close to his parents. Just guessing, but his mom and dad (born in the '30s) look like they could have been 'come-heres,' and he looks like he might be a 'born-here.' Destin Memorial Cemetery. [2017]

Winter Garden, Florida

Cemetery Visitors:  Cemeteries are for the living as well as the dead. Many who visit are there to take care of a family member's final resting place. Whenever you see flowers on a grave, you know that somebody still cares. Here, not only do you see flowers, you also see a survivor wiping down a loved one's headstone. Winter Garden Cemetery. [2018]

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Identity Headwear ~ Cubs Fans:  Want to bet they are transplants from Chicagoland?  Proud to be Cubs fans and proud to be Americans, they are. They don't even need to tell you that: You can see it on the baseball cap that marks their grave. Gulf Cemetery. [2018]

Pensacola, Florida

The Last Shall Be First, and The First Last:  Let's face it: When most Europeans came to the Americas, they were illiterate. They knew their names, but they didn't know how to spell them, let alone write them. And, when others (perhaps immigration clerks) wrote them down, they often just sounded them out and chose the letters phonetically. What started as the same name became a family of homonyms: Zeigler, Ziegler, Ziglar, Zigler, and even Seigler and Zieger. Eastern Gate Cemetery. [2017]

Molino, Florida

Surname Initials as Identifying Logos ~ Y:  The letter Y is the 18th most frequently used letter in the English language. Why? Nobody knows for sure. What we can say for sure is that this is a fine example of a family plot and the surname initial is used to mark the corners of the plot. Morgan Cemetery. [2017]

Miami, Florida

You've Got Mail!  In your head, put an adjective in front of the word 'letters.' Did you choose the word 'love'? When you think of letters (the old-fashioned variety), your mind automatically goes to "love letters." Ergo, the mailbox becomes the perfect accouterment for a burial plot. But don't forget to have some stamps on hand! Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South Cemetery. [2018]

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Theatrically Yours:  She was a dedicated thespian. Here's what her obituary had to say: "played many roles within Stage Crafter Community Theater for 25 years." That's almost a third of her life and an identity that goes back to ancient Greece. The first stage actor in the world was named Thespis. He performed in the 6th century B.C. Beal Memorial Cemetery. [2017]

Auburndale, Florida

January is for Palindromes:  She died in 2002. Elle est décédée en 2002. Yes, in French, that sentence begins (elle) and ends (2002) with a palindrome. What about décédée? Could we call it a syllabic palindrome? If you read the syllables in reverse order, the word is the same. Think of a choo choo or a friend named Jo Jo. Lincoln Park Cemetery. [2014]

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Christmastide Graveside:  Believe it or not, the twelve days of Christmas begin now, on Christmas Day. Here's someone who was born on the first day of Christmastide, December 25. Today would have been his 37th birthday. That's two reasons to be missed at this time of year. And, that may be why his little plot of land has been turned into a holiday wonderland. You can't miss it. And, you just know he is still "looking down from the clouds" and still loves the little girl he left behind. Beal Memorial Cemetery. [2017]

Laurel Hiil, Florida

Defined by the Regional Economy ~ Logging:  Here's a  logging truck made of a log. This one isn't on the road in Florida's Okaloosa County, however. It's on a "short haul to heaven." But, if the truck doesn't quite get him there, a pair of boots is on call for a sprint across the finish line. Almarante Cemetery. [2017]

Jay, Florida

Spring Comes to the Cemetery:  Wildflowers do such a wonderful job of bringing the golden orb to earth's surface. Every cemetery should have a cover of color to welcome the high-sun season. The green will last for the next six months, but the yellow will last for only a few weeks. Whether you are alive or dead: Enjoy it! Jay Cemetery. [2017]

Jay, Florida

The Holy Estate of Matrimony ~ Wedding Bells Ring:  Wedding bells usually indicate a church wedding, but the day they got married was during the Great Depression, so it was probably a simple ceremony for family and friends. He was three years older than his bride, so it looks like he may have waited for her to graduate from high school. Jay Cemetery. [2017]

Key West, Florida

The Holy Estate of Matrimony ~ No Rings:  "Childhood sweethearts. She was eleven and he was twelve." They got married as teenagers (probably right after she graduated from high school), and it lasted for 47 years. In life, they had a story to tell. In death, they continue to tell it. Key West Cemetery. [2014]

Haines City, Florida

Cemeteries as Museums of Telecommunications:  Remember when telephones looked like this? Remember when they all were black? Are you old enough to recall what a party line was? Even as the artifacts disappear, their granite images will exist for all time on cemetery headstones. Forest Hill Cemetery. [2014]

Haines City, Florida

Nicknames as Markers of Masculinity:  Meet Big Sam. His nickname introduces you to his personality and, probably, his size. He, or someone close to him, also wanted you to know what he did for a living. Forest Hill Cemetery. [2014]

Haines City, Florida

Golf Forever:  He must have been retired for a decade, maybe more. And, this must have been his favorite posture. Forest Hill Cemetery. [2014]