Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, June 4, 2012

She's Baaack!

Well at least I hope so.

I did a lot while I was in the islands. But the most important thing was putting Mom's ashes out to sea. A dear friend of ours took these pictures.

Her urn along with various personal items that we placed into a basket.

Family and friends gathered at Morgan's Mango on St. John to remember her life
 More family and friends.

My sister Erva and I, accompanied by the brother we never had, John Shaffer. He's a fabulous guitarist as well as being a minister. We sang my parents song, "And the Angels Sing," as well as my mother's favorite song, "Amazing Grace."

My classmate, Sidney Comissiong who is head of surgery at the hospital in St. Thomas, took us out on his boat. Here is Erva and her boyfriend David preparing Mom's basket. We placed her urn in the basket along with many items that represented aspects of her life.



Erva and I preparing the orchids we tossed on the water. Orchids were Mom's favorite flowers.


Drinking a toast with Schaefer Beer, the beer she drank in the old days when she and her gal pals sat under the Gossip Tree and gossiped.

John saying a few words. The family monument, Carvel Rock, is in the background. Here is where my grandmother is buried and my father along with many friends. When Erva and I dropped her basket into the water it seemed to swim away as if searching for her loved ones.

Here's a little haiku I wrote.

Orchids grace the waves
She swims away, a turtle,
Seeking her beloved.


All in all it was a lovely day. A joyous conclusion to a long and joyous life.




And the Angels Sing

12 comments:

  1. That's beautiful! That's much better than a traditional funeral. Love it! What a wonderful way to honor your mom.

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  2. What a wonderful rememberance. Thanks so much for sharing it.

    I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you.

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  3. Wow, so beautiful! What a great way to remember and put her to rest. So lovely. I'm sorry for your loss, but glad you're back!

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  4. Hey Bish!
    What a truly unique and special way to honor your mother.

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  5. Hi Bish .. that is wonderful - and what a glorious way to say that final good bye - I'm sure your mother would be thrilled ..

    How lovely that family and friends joined in .. I'm so pleased for you - an essential last gift to your mother ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  6. Your mom and I have something in common: orchids are my favorite flower, too! (any variety, but especially cymbidiums). I'm sorry for your loss, but, really, what a wonderful and peaceful way to keep the memory of her in your heart.

    p.s. Glad you're back, too!

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  7. Just beautiful. My sister took my mom's ashes to India ...

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  8. What a beautiful way to remember your mother.

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  9. It looks as if you had a some good family bonding time. And your Mother sounds like a lovely woman. I'm sure she will be missed.

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  10. Aww, what a lovely post. I know your mom would be so happy about the way you remembered her. She had to be a gorgeous woman inside and out to have had you! I MISSED you soooo much. BTW, my postcard is in a prominent place in our home. I think of my pal Bish every day when I look at it. (((hugs))) (((loves)))

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  11. Oh. My. Word. What a wonderful au revoir to your Mom.

    Amazing Grace is my favourite hymn too,and we sang it at my Dad's funeral. My Mom wants us to keep my Dad's ashes until she is gone to and then she wants my sister and I to mix their ashes together and release them in as far in the ocean as we can, off the Umhlanga coast where we spent so many happy holidays as a family.

    Bish, these photos of your Mom's ceremony gave me goosebumps - I can only imagine how your Mom must have been watching over you all and she would have been truly honoured by what you did.

    Hamba kahle, Erva Claire Boulon Denham, go well with God.

    Judy, South Africa

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  12. Ahhh, I had no idea this was the reason for your trip. Wish I could have met you. Maybe next year. Lovely, lovely ceremony (and what a great song).

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