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Tag Archives: Ashes to Ashes

In Remembrance


They say time heals all wounds, but I rather think that time just passes by. The gaping hole left in our hearts is still there, but it’s hidden behind the life that we’ve lived~the experiences, the joys, and the sorrows~ that have kept us occupied since that day. It’s a little less prominent in the landscape but still there, nonetheless.

Happy birthday Dad. Miss you still.

A candle flickers
out of sight,
but in your heart
I still burn bright.
Think not of sadness,
that I’m not near,
think of gladness
and joyous cheer.

An expert from “Light a Candle” by J., Family Friends Poems, July 28, 2008

Remembrance

Seventeen years gone now.

Roses for Grandma, of blessed memory.

Roses

A white rose for my Grandma and a pink rose for my Mama.

When I think of my Grandmother it’s always accompanied by roses. Beautiful red old fashioned trailing roses next to the house. Meticulously tooled leather roses on all of her things. Bouquets of fresh flowers with roses on her “bar”. In her middle name.

Grandma when she married Grandpa W., and the face I remember.

It’s been 16 years now since she entered her rest. She may be absent from this world, but she’s always there in the shadows of my mind. Some times she comes out of my mouth, with some little phrase. When I make potato salad. Sometimes it’s her picture I find while looking for something else. Other times it’s in the way Thing 1 looks when she holds her head a certain way. I see her in my Mom too.

Today I light a candle for Emma Rosetta Wadkins, of blessed memory.

The human soul is a light from God.

See also: https://alaskaonmymind.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/one-decade/

Ashes to Ashes

 

Dust to dust

 

 

We had our memorial for Dad at the cabin yesterday, (Tuesday 7/23). He is finally resting where he wanted to be, well mostly anyway.

 

Dad's ashes and the photo Tami took.

Dad’s ashes and the photo Tami took.

 

We had a nice gathering of close friends and family. Mike, Tami and Allie, Skylar, Scott and Deni, Dean, Aunt Char and Uncle Ray, Aunt Dee and Uncle Eugene and of course myself and the kids. Tami and Deni arranged the food and brought us a wonderful array of local flavor: moose burgers, elk sausage, deep-fried zucchini and cauliflower (one of Dad’s specialties), salads… so much food. And all so good.

Mike grilling up some awesome moose burgers and elk sausages!

Mike grilling up some awesome moose burgers and elk sausages!

 

Good food!

Good food!

 

We spent about 4 hours together out there. Looking around, laughing, reminiscing, taking pictures. A true final good-bye.

 

All of us, Mike was behind the camera.

All of us, Mike was behind the camera.

 

Then we took his ashes to the garden. Dad had told others that he wanted to be next to Fritz and Okie (his dog and cat who are buried there). Aunt Dee and Uncle Ray scattered some of his ashes in the wind over the garden. We buried some next to Okie, and then Aunt Dee took some back to Linda.

 

 

Mike dug a small hole next to Okie for Dad’s ashes, then we planted a Forget-Me-Not over the top. A fitting plant I’d say. Both Alaska’s state flower, and true to its name, we will never forget the man they called Chuck, and I called Dad.

 

 

The finality of it. Both full of sorrow and yet good knowing that to the best of my ability, I was doing what Dad wanted. Dad’s wishes are what matters.

 

Sums it up well...

Sums it up well…

 

Baruch b’shem YHVH. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.