A Memory For Monday

As all my loyal readers know, February 17th was the first anniversary of my mother's death.  Her ashes are to be scattered at Tanglewood in Massachusetts (the summer home of the Boston Pops Orchestra and a venue for musical performances of every genre) when my four siblings can arrange their schedules to be there together.  I am unable to travel, so we all know I can't be present for it.






I live just miles from the Atlantic Ocean, in Delaware.  Delaware is a peninsula, so we have lots and lots of beaches.  My mom's favorite (and mine) is Rehoboth Beach.  It's a gorgeous beach with a phenomenal boardwalk and all the seaside amenities you can imagine.






My sister, Shirley, and I wanted to do something special on February 17th, so we decided to have a sunrise service and scatter just a bit of Mom's ashes along the beach, where the ocean and the salt air would carry her away.






When 'official sunrise time' arrived, it became apparent that we were going to have high cloud coverage, blocking sunrise on the ocean's horizon.  No matter - we began our service right on schedule.  I'm including it here because I thought the words (author unknown) were special enough that you, or someone you know, may want to use them yourself one day:

One: At the rising of the sun and at its going down. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer. . .

All: We will remember her.

(How come the ashes sparkled when there was no sunlight?)

One: At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: At the beginning of the year and when it ends. . .

All: We will remember her, for she is now a part of us, as we remember her.

One: When we are weary and in need of strength. . .

All: We will remember her.

(This photo is for a dear friend who gave me my newest rosary for Christmas.  I wanted her to know she was present at the service......and I wore pink.  Me!  Pink.  Mom liked color.)

One: When we are lost and sick at heart. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: When we have joy and wish to share it. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: When we have decisions that are difficult to make. . .

All: We will remember her.

One: When we have achievements that are based on hers. . .

All: We will remember her.

(Mom won the Trendsetter Trophy for this costume at our 2008 Academy Awards Gala.)

All: For as long as we live, she too will live. . .

For she is now a part of us as we remember her.