Temporary Guardians

Before Damon, Alexa and I left Fresno today, we stopped by the cemetery to pay a quick visit to Granty.  Prior to this past week, no one in our immediate Hovannisian family had ever considered burials or cemetery plots.  There wasn't a large group of plots near occupied sites, and we didn't want Grant to be alone for the next 20+ years.  So, Granty was buried in a 'plot next to Damon's paternal grandparents - - Kasper and Siroon.  Damon never met Grandpa Kasper, but Grandma Siroon was an iconic matriarch for the Hovannisian family, and she always had a special place for all of the men in the family.  She will definitely watch over the newest Hovannisian boy and take good care of this little 'uddy-wuddy' for us.  Granty will eventually be moved, but we know he's in great hands in the interim.

Obviously a cemetery is a very new concept to Alexa, but we simply explained it as a place where we go to remember people who have died.  Alexa loved the idea of bringing decorations, and she happily left the flowers on Grandma Siroon's headstone and balloons on Granty's plot.  She seemed to understand the concept pretty well, as she looked at a picture of Grant that was placed there and said, "Goodbye, Granty.  I love you baby brother."  And then she took off running, making sure all of the flowers and Christmas decorations that had been left on other headstones were properly arranged (neat and orderly...that's my girl).  That's what I love about Alexa - - she understands the concept, but doesn't stew on it.  She's a wonderful distraction for all of us :)