This past weekend, we wanted to get out in the sunshine and go for a bike ride, so we headed to the nearby Mountain View Cometery in Oakland. This is a gorgeous old cemetery established in the mid-19th century, and designed by the same architect who designed Central Park.

It’s not only beautiful, but also huge and hilly, with numerous paths, great views, and few cars, so it’s a great place to ride. There’s even a section of big fancy crypts known as “millionaire’s row,” which I find amusing.

We sat in the sun and talked about people we’ve known that have passed, and concluded that it’s good to be alive. And few things make me feel more alive than moving around on my bike, so it felt very celebratory. It’s good to meditate on these things, it always makes me want to spend more time with my loved ones and less time worrying.

Kenn also remembered that Elizabeth Short was buried here, aka The Black Dahlia. We managed to find her grave and, lacking flowers, left small stones instead (in the Jewish tradition).