A time of creative observation :
Gates Closed , Perspectives Expanded :
Visiting Mount Auburn ’ s Neighbors during the Time of Covid-19
By Kristin Macomber
12
“ The test of a firstrate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time , and still retain the ability to function .”
— F . Scott Fitzgerald finally grasped this concept — holding two competing truths
I in my mind simultaneously — back in March 2020 . Remember March ? When 48 hours could spell the difference between casually hopping on a plane and sheltering in place with stockpiles of hand sanitizer and toilet paper ? By the time my husband and I realized that we ’ d be hunkering down in Cambridge for an indefinite duration , I already knew two things for certain :
First , I knew that however the COVID-19 pandemic played out , I ’ d be fine as long as I could go for mental health walks that included Mount Auburn Cemetery as a destination .
Second , I knew in my heart that Mount Auburn wouldn ’ t be able to stay open .
I encountered both truths when I approached the front gate on a mid- March evening . There I found a hand-written sign declaring that the gates would close at 6 p . m . Puzzled , I asked a nearby staff member if I might stay a little later , what with the sun setting closer to 7 , and with the renovated turnstile back in business . With a weary sigh , he said , “ We ’ re closing at 6 . I have to get home .” Clearly , we were both seeking solace — me within Mount Auburn ’ s hallowed grounds , and he , at home with his loved ones . Our sources of comfort were decidedly at odds .
I paid Mount Auburn a sunny Saturday visit a few days later , just as the world was fumbling its way through escalating COVID-19 closures . The moment I walked in the front gate and saw the bicycles — more than I ’ d ever seen there before , far too many to fit on the racks — I understood what “ We ’ re all in this together ” was going look like for the foreseeable future . I was not alone in my need for a dose of nature and serenity in the midst of the pandemic . But the ground rules were fuzzy . Masks required , or not ? Six feet social distancing , or more ? Stay on the paths , or shift away from other visitors as needed ? Uncertainty around how to move through the Cemetery ’ s space was palpable . We were all feeling our way , a bit confused . My visit left me feeling more unsettled than rejuvenated .
A few days later , Dave Barnett announced online what I already expected : due to the needs and safety of the staff , along with the projected increase in COVID-related burials , caution would be Mount Auburn ’ s top priority : the Cemetery would be shuttered to visitors as of March 30th . Which , much as it broke my heart , I completely understood .