In honour of our brother, Todd, my sister Dianne and I recently scattered a portion of his ashes on a bank of the Saint John river.
The spot we chose was beautiful and peaceful, and just felt like the right place to perform the ritual.
It was a rainy, cold day and by the time we arrived at the location the sun was soon to set.
How we managed to get to the spot without falling will forever remain a mystery. It crossed my mind that if we injured ourselves during the process we wouldn't have been discovered for quite some time. But we were on a mission and nothing was going to deter us.
We tearfully spoke of our love for Todd, honoured him with prose that described the good man he truly was, and shared in the scattering of his ashes.
As we finished the deed we wondered aloud if we had picked the right spot and said the right things, as it was important to us both that we honoured him in the way he deserved.
As we began the trek back up the hill we were given conformation that we had, indeed, done the right thing.
As we climbed the hill the waning sun broke through the clouds. When we looked up we saw an enormous flock of crows fly overhead, heading to their roosting site.
We held hands as we stood in awe of what was transpiring.
Then, as we looked down to better navigate the hill, we saw that it was covered in wild strawberries.
Laughing and crying at the same time we gave thanks for those signs.
Our brother Todd loved the outdoors and spent much time on, and near, the Saint John river. Many of our phone conversations took place as he was drinking a coffee looking over the river's expanse.
Although I'm not sure he would openly talk about it to most people, Todd often fed crows.
As for the strawberries, he would talk about how many rows of his garden would be used to plant them. I would laughingly say I was going to have to start referring to him as the Strawberry King.
I am grateful that Dianne and I got to honour Todd in this way. It will be a lovely memory that will forever stay in my heart and help to ease the pain of his passing.
And I am also so very grateful we got to witness that our deed was accompanied by such lovely signs of confirmation.
The spot we chose was beautiful and peaceful, and just felt like the right place to perform the ritual.
It was a rainy, cold day and by the time we arrived at the location the sun was soon to set.
How we managed to get to the spot without falling will forever remain a mystery. It crossed my mind that if we injured ourselves during the process we wouldn't have been discovered for quite some time. But we were on a mission and nothing was going to deter us.
We tearfully spoke of our love for Todd, honoured him with prose that described the good man he truly was, and shared in the scattering of his ashes.
As we finished the deed we wondered aloud if we had picked the right spot and said the right things, as it was important to us both that we honoured him in the way he deserved.
As we began the trek back up the hill we were given conformation that we had, indeed, done the right thing.
As we climbed the hill the waning sun broke through the clouds. When we looked up we saw an enormous flock of crows fly overhead, heading to their roosting site.
We held hands as we stood in awe of what was transpiring.
Then, as we looked down to better navigate the hill, we saw that it was covered in wild strawberries.
Laughing and crying at the same time we gave thanks for those signs.
Our brother Todd loved the outdoors and spent much time on, and near, the Saint John river. Many of our phone conversations took place as he was drinking a coffee looking over the river's expanse.
Although I'm not sure he would openly talk about it to most people, Todd often fed crows.
As for the strawberries, he would talk about how many rows of his garden would be used to plant them. I would laughingly say I was going to have to start referring to him as the Strawberry King.
I am grateful that Dianne and I got to honour Todd in this way. It will be a lovely memory that will forever stay in my heart and help to ease the pain of his passing.
And I am also so very grateful we got to witness that our deed was accompanied by such lovely signs of confirmation.
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