Graves hold many secrets. Think about it. How many times have you heard, "Carry your secret to the grave." Graves hold secrets, stories, and the bones of those who came before us. The old cemeteries show history, humor and sadness on the epitaphs of the tombstones.

There's no better time than Halloween to respect the dead and greet the ghosts gathering around the graves in the old cemeteries.

You don't have to have one foot in the grave to check out a cemetery. Just don't sign any papers that would have you check in. If you're looking for peace and quiet, a cemetery is a good place go. For the most part, you'll find them to be dead silent. But, we do understand if you don't want to be caught dead in a cemetery. If the spirit moves you, San Diego has some neat, old cementeries to meander through.

Dearborn Cemetery

Located off the side of a road called Tierra Bonita (Pretty Land) and saddled in between properties with horse stables, Dearborn Memorial Park is a cemetery that merits a closer look. The name of the cemetery comes from John Dearborn who was the first person buried there in 1886. This is an active cemetery with seasonal decorations provided by loved ones. The sloping hills are landscaped with mature shade trees which add to the peacefulness of this final resting place for families of the area. The tombstones located closest to the road are the oldest ones in the cemetery - be sure to look for the ones that date back to the late 1800s.

One of the most unique features of this cemetery is the presence of wind chimes and other hanging ornaments from the trees located up on the very top part of the cemetery. The chimes make a faint sound that help break the usual silence of the cemetery. The use of hanging ornaments in trees is not something that we have found in other cemeteries and they add a personal touch to the gravesites.

Dearborn Cemetery

Because the cemetery is fairly small in relation to the larger cemeteries found in the City of San Diego, it does not take much time to visit by car or on foot. This cemetery is well-maintained and is easily accessible. Best of all, the cemetery grounds are open to the public for visitation 24-hours a day, every day of the year. Now, that's scary! Buried in the hills of El Cajon and off the well-traveled Dehesa Road is the El Cajon Cemetery. It may very well be one of those places that people speed by and never get stop to visit. It would probably be different if the property was on a dead end. The large iron gates are open during the day so feel free to pull in, drive around, and pick a spot to take a good look. Your natural inclination may be to drive dead ahead, straight into the cemetery. However, the more interesting part of the cemetery is located on the left side of the property. Why is it more interesting? The old part of the cemetery has an assortment of interesting tombstones, not just grave markers like those found in the newer section. Curious? As you enter the gates, make a left turn. This cemetery is unique in that it separates the endowed (lawn section) from the non-endowed (dirt or dry section). Think of it as the 'cheap seats' vs. V.I.P. seats at a stadium. Like ballgames, some people actually do like the cheap seats. Less upkeep? Water-wise? Fly balls?

This section gets a little dry, but stick with us. The old part of the cemetery is located in the dry section. Though we are focusing on the old grave markers, you can find newer grave markers in the dry section.. The best way to see the old section of the cemetery is to park near the tall flag pole and walk out to the cemetery. Be sure to look for the variety of tombstone styles that appear in this cemetery as well as the multi-lingual aspects of some of the tombstones. Most are written in English, some are written in Spanish, and we found one that was in Arabic. It also appears that a variety of religions are represented at this cemetery in contrast to the strictly Catholic cemetery of Holy Cross and the Jewish cemetery of Home of Peace in the City of San Diego.

We would like to point out that El Cajon Cemetery does not provide the same kind of tranquil experience as Dearborn Memorial Park in Poway. It is not as intimate and personal but rather has a more rustic feel to it than most cemeteries. It just isn't a fancy schmancy place. The cemetery was built on a ranch owned by the Hall Family. In fact, the oldest grave markers belong to the Hall's who were buried on the land in the late 1800s. This cemetery is located in the middle of what is now a residential area in the older part of El Cajon. All that separates the dead from the living at the El Cajon Cemetery is a chain-link fence. Just be careful what side you're on when the gates close. Grounds are open 8:00 a.m. - Sundown Monday- Sunday (including holidays).

Sometimes, names of place are given for obvious reasons. You might not think that a cemetery would have an ocean view but in the case of this cemetery, it once did. The Oceanview Cemetery is located on Coast Highway just a few blocks east of the Pacific Ocean. These days, this part of Coast Highway is dotted with small shops that now obscure the view of the ocean. However, this does mean that you cannot still feel an ocean breeze as you pay a visit to this small cemetery. If you want to visit a cemetery that does have an ocean view and great ocean breezes, go to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Drop dead gorgeous.

Oceanside is actually home to multiple cemeteries including Mission San Luis Rey, the Pioneer Cemetery, and the former Buena Vista Cemetery (now a Hungry Hunter restaurant). Oceanview Cemetery is easily accessible and it is a good drive-through type of experience if you are limited on time.

Oceanview Cemetery

Oceanview Cemetery was formerly known as the Oddfellows Cemetery which was established in the late 1800s. The main characteristic of this cemetery is that it is laid out in a grid pattern and the tombs are situated in a linear fashion running east to west. In other words, there are no rolling hills or shade trees that are found in both Poway, El Cajon and many other cemeteries.

Those resting below may be turning in their graves at the sight of the digs they've called home for over a century. They've been long gone and forgotten as reflected in the barren landscaping. Given that we have not seen much in the way of ordinary or seasonal decoration, we know that Oceanview is not an active cemetery. Some cemeteries that appear neglected often provide a very different experience than the more manicured cemeteries. Being amidst the gravesites, you can almost feel the deadness in the air. The grounds are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (we did get in on a weekend).

Cemeteries, while morbid to some, actually present many life affirming opportunities. These quiet places which command respect and silence, introduce us to names and the histories of people we've never met. We may stop and think about them for a minute or two and wonder how they lived. Cementeries also tend to tap us on the shoulder asking us if we are living the lives we're fortunate to still have. Sometimes, visiting a cemetery confirms how much living we have to left do.