Today is November 1st, the Day of the Dead.

In Latin America it's called Dia de los Muertos or Todos Santos. This holiday began in the Catholic Church in the 4th Century to honor all the saints.  It's also called the Feast of All Hallows, Feast of All Saints, All Hallows Day, and Hallowmas.

There's nothing macabre about it. In Latin America it's become the day for honoring relatives and friends who are deceased. In Latin America, in the two weeks before November 1st, people go to the cemeteries, clean up, landscape, repaint the tombs. On Nov 1, everyone goes to the cemeteries with food and drink for a big picnic. The cemeteries are packed full of people. A plate of food is set out on each tomb. They talk and tell stories about those that passed. It's a huge holiday in Guatemala. I love it.

With that in mind, I've adopted an idea from my friend, Joe Henry. I've made a list of all my people where I recall the names of friends, relatives, and people I knew personally who mattered to me, who have passed. This is the day to remember your people.

April Bunting

Else Wilhelmine Funk

John Christian Niebel

Aliede Alwine Lücke

Wilhelm Lücke

Tante Annie

Tante Sophie

Michael Kostli

Paul Kostli

Johanna Kostli

Ollie Polak

Emily Polak

Emil Wandelmaier

Martha Wandelmaier

Barbara Swanson

Weaver Swanson

Paul Michels

Cameron P. Hoff

Herman George Landmeier

Emmy Eckhardt (Schwerer)

Louise Eckhardt (Schwerer)

Harvey Darlington

Cliff McMaster

Dr. Sam Ruben

Mel Blanc

Peanuts (Lillian Ugrin)

Tony Ugrin

Karl Duge

Dr. Murray Bradshaw

Wellington Maybeury Bertolet, III

John Wayne

Mark Tapscott

Don Gato

Howard Guilford

Elsie Guilford

Tommy Gumina

Kyong Chang

Ray Brown

Herb Ellis

Joe Pass

Don Chiqui

Jeff Porcaro

Hal Blaine

Emilio Mendizabal

Daryl Dragon

Ray Charles

Susan Hayward

Roy McNett

Jim Hupe

Kirk McFarland

Richard, the electrician

Winston

Leo

Ted Coker

Muhammad Ali

Gary Wright

Uncle Bunk

Jimmy Smith

Hoagy Carmichael

Gene Roddenberry

Jack Benny

Kirk Douglas

Ray Bradbury

Nate Perlman

Maury Goldstein

Kevin Lucas

Vera Spellman

Dead Don

Ken Sime

Doc Wilcox

Clara Michels

Eevee

Mitzi