| Grandkids with Dad: Chandra and Michelle in front of Marcus, CCC guy with Dad in the crook of his arm, Noemi, Lawrence, Nick, Heather, Karen not shown: Jacinta, Elida, and Marta, there in spirit but not physically |
| Scattered Memories (cont'd) |
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| Gorgeous Gorge pics - In the one below, I was trying to capture the snow. |
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| Mary helps scatter the ashes as Joe and Karen look on |
| Heather helps scatter the rose petals Mom brought for those who were squeamish about the ashes. No one declined to scatter the ashes. But the roses were a nice touch - it was Dad's favorite rose from the garden. |
| Karen looks out over the gorge at Pine Creek below. |
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| The grandkids above were the last to scatter the ashes. It was so touching. They all climbed out over the retaining wall onto the cliff face to get as close as possible to the edge. After the last of Dad was returned to the earth, they all stood there, meditating on their own thoughts about Dad. We had a bit of a time getting them to come back on the safe side. Afterwards, Marcus read a letter from his wife, Danni, who couldn't be with us. It was very touching and a fitting final touch to the little memorial service. Before we scattered to our own hotel rooms, we sang Let There Be Peace on Earth - appropriate because it was the day the US started the bombing of Afghanistan. Goodbye Dad. Welcome Home! |
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| Front row: Mom, Tom, Chandra, Noemi, Michelle, Dora, Karen Back row: Heather. Me, Marcus, Vic, Nick, Derek, Mary, Joe, Lawrence Taken at the hotel in Manheim, PA October 7, 2001. |