Tending the graves

Some people find cemeteries mysterious, even creepy. Others find them peaceful and inspiring. For David Shea of Butte, Montana, the local cemetery turned out to be a teacher.

After moving back home to help his father in the 1980s, Shea noticed a cache of coffee cans in the garage. On Memorial Day, he understood their purpose when his dad filled them with sand and silk flowers and decorated the grave sites of people who had helped him over the years -- and who had no survivors to honor them. Through this ritual of "doing the graves," Shea learned about his dad's life.

He recounted this experience in a wonderful piece on National Public Radio's StoryCorps this past Friday. You can read it -- or, better yet -- listen by clicking here.

For me, David Shea's tale shows the power of saying thank you to the people who have touched your life, whether by carrying on their work, recognizing their qualities in you or your kids, or performing the simple act of placing a can of flowers on a grave.