Kinda spooky!

[azsnowman]

Y'all know me pretty well I think, WELL....this is REALLY gonna make ya wonder "LOL!"

As most of you know, Michelles mother passed away on the 12th of Feb. and she was cremated on Friday the 13th. WELL.....Michelles father didn't want to spread the ashes so Michelle and I are. We "JUST" received the ashes yesterday, something kinda FISHY there if you ask me, I mean, 2 WEEKS to get the remains???

ANYWAYS...we are going out today to an area that is special to Michelle to spread her mothers ashes.....I don't know WHY, I know better, her mothers soul is with the Lord now BUT, it was CREEPING me out to NO END last night just knowing that, well.....you know! Pretty strange huh?

Dennis

[janswizard]

I know everyone has differing opinons on that one, Dennis, but I kinda agree with you on that 2 weeks seems like an awful long time to get back the remains. However, I don't understand why anyone would want to keep the ashes and not spread them around. I know I don't ever want someone's remains sitting on my fireplace mantle. This is just my opinion and I certainly don't mean to offend anyone who sees this differently from me. It's my mother's wish to be cremated and if my sister or brother want the ashes, they are more than welcome to them.

[vbhoutex]

My father was cremated. It certainly didn't take two weeks to get the ashes. We buried his ashes at the church he designed and help build when I was a wee lad. No ashes on my mantle thank you, but to each his own.

[azskyman]

The two weeks does seem long, but then when you think of it...there is no rush!

Spreading her remains back in nature seems surreal, but it is a natural process. Actually more natural than burial, I think.

I've often thought I'd ask my family to put just a "pinch" of me at the base of a young oak tree somewhere and then, every now and then, come back and check out that tree!

I don't know if creepy is the word I'd describe what you and Michelle are doing, but it is certainly an experience none of us go through very often, if ever!

No mantle for me either, but Kathy wants a bit of her left at home so she can hear conversations yet to come....

Now THAT might be creepy!

Steve

[coriolis]

That definitely will have a different feel in years to come. I'm used to going to a cemetary and seeing the memorial. In your case, you will go to the place and get a feeling as though she is all around you. Yeah that is a little spooky.

[Stephanie]

As some of you know, I had my cat Derby cremated and the vet had put his ashes in a nice little cedar chest with a brass name plate on top. I didn't know how I was going to feel about it, but it actually gives me comfort. I feel he's still inside with me, in the family room enjoying the fireplace when we've had it on.

I also had told the story "a little sign from above" which had to do with neighbors giving us their leftover cat food and litter when their cat died not long after. The cat food was the same brand that my grandmother used to feed her cats years ago - Figaro. Derby's ashes is sitting right next to a picture of my grandmother. It gave me great comfort to know that he was safe and sound and probably "flirting" up a storm with my grandmother. Also, the litter we received from my neighbor, "Scoop Away", had a picture of a brown tabby like Derby lounging and sleeping and looking very content. Some people would be creeped out by this, but again, I found alot of comfort.

I like to think that the spreading of Michelle's mom's ashes is like restoring her back to life in another form.

[petal*pusher]

Dennis.....My firstborn....a bright-eyed red-headed little boy died soon after birth. It took a little more than a week to get his "cremains" back from the funeral home. Because Michigan's Upper Peninsula is one of our favorite places, we decided to take him there and release his ashes in a place where parents would be likely to take a child who would love to explore and appreciate the awesome beauty there. We drove down several dirt trails before finding the perfect spot! There amidst some young hemlock bordering a beautiful beaver-made pond, we set our little Steven free. Across the pond is a huge sawdust pile; a couple old tractors.....and the remnants of an old logging camp that bustled with action taking down the trees that rebuilt Chicago after the "Great Fire". It is the perfect place! We were surprised when we drove to the nearest town to find a motel that we were in Paradise, Mi.!! About 6 years later, I read a story about a Toledo, Oh. couple that were vacationing up there with their kids and an old red Irish setter. That old dog died after romping with the kids in an area they described that matched "ours" exactly! They buried him up there by a pond, across from a huge sawdust pile......in my heart I'm sure it's the same place. Somehow it gives me comfort thinking about my little red-headed fella having that old red setter by his side.................thanks for letting me reminisce......p

[streetsoldier]

On some reflection, I feel that I wouldn't want my ashes interred or scattered in "foreign soil" (i.e., the Bootheel); rather, I'd be happy if my family could take them to Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Fargo, ND and ask the Dean to inter them somewhere within its walls...a place where there's life, Christian education and fellowship proceeding apace.

It's a thought I had, after reading your accounts.

[azskyman]

Petalpusher...a wonderful story of birth, death, and rebirth! Scattering ashes seems to be a release to me...rather than confinement. How wonderful your words paint that picture!

Your story reinforces my wishes to have something similar done with my remains as well.

[azsnowman]

Umm...the part were I said it was spooky was the fact that the ashes were in the house, sorry for the miss understanding! I know....it's silly to even think about it but for SOME REASON, I don't know why, it was creeping me out! We put her ashes in the spare bedroom with the door closed.....didn't want her roaming around all night lol! Sorry.......

It was a very touching moment.....it's been snowing off and on all day, even when we were hiking out to this area, ALMOST at the split second we opened the box and started spreading them, the sun came out, a brief gust of wind came up and then there was absoulete peace.....talk about an EEERIE feeling, it was like, "OK.....I'm free!"

Dennis

[Stephanie]

petal - your story just brought tears to my eyes! I can see them running around that pond right now! God Bless you!

Dennis - I understood what you meant. I liken the sun coming out at the time when you spread her ashes when a couple gets married on a rainy, cloudy day, and the sun suddenly appears or the rain stops during the ceremony! I'm sure that's what it was - it was a thank you!

[Pburgh]

Dennis, it did take 2 weeks to get Craig's ashes.