Responsibilities of the Eldest

One of the things we did while the family was together at Thanksgiving in Missouri is visit my Great Grandmother's grave whom I am named after (my middle name). Dad wanted a picture of me by the headstone.

We were walking around the cemetery and my dad was remembering back when it was a peaceful cemetery. Now, it's near a major road, there are businesses near it with loud trucks. He said to never let that happen to him. He said he wanted to be buried at the cemetery in Quantico. It's peaceful, serene and beautiful there. He also said not to let kids run all over his grave. Punks (teenagers), not little kids. Little kids can play and run all they want, he says.

And then it hit me. One day I will be the one who is handling this. The one to make sure their wishes are taken care of.

Sometimes, it sucks to be the eldest.