I went to a funeral today
It was told to me a few weeks ago that on April 1, at 11am in San Pedro that my Aunt Marie’s ashes would be spread out at sea. My knowledge of the San Pedro area was a bit off as I thought initially that it was in Orange County, which is only about an hour and a half away from us. I found out late last night in fact after using this really cool site called Google Maps, that it was basically around the Long Beach area, which meant that it would take 2+ hours to get there. This threw a kink into our plans. It was deemed that Jocelyn would stay behind to take Molly to school at 9am. The original plan was to drop the little creature off and drive up to Orange County and be there by 1030am. That would not have worked out well.
Not only was it farther north than I had expected, but it was going to rain in the morning. So I had to leave extra early. I set my alarm for 615am when I went to bed last night.
Woke up knowing full well that I had finally succumbed to the cold that has been floating around the house, no thanks to the little girl who has been coughing all over me and to my lovely wife, who has been doing the same, it was my turn. Sore throat, body aches greeted me as my eyes opened up to try and turn my alarm off.
I took a shower, thinking that the hot water would help and initially it did. I got dressed and was out the door by 655am. It was indeed raining in San Diego, pouring actually. It usually takes me about 35-40 minutes to get to Oceanside… it took me almost 1 hour and 15 minutes. That mixed with traffic in Orange County, got me to San Pedro at 1025am. Joe and family showed up at 1030am from Arcadia. I met Uncle Dale and the rest of the crew there and we got on board at around 1115am.
The mood was less solemn as I had expected, she had passed away in December and we finally got around to puring the ashes into the ocean near berth 77. The captain told us stories about what to expect and told us that we would be going out a few miles where it was still safe. The sun was out at this time and it was really a magnificent day to say the least.
We got to the point that we were supposed to reach and her ashes were in a small wicker basket with flowers and little heart post it notes in it. Everyone got into a line, I was at the end, the basket was handed from person to person, everyone said something privately, then it got to Uncle Dale and he teared up and started crying as he spoke to the ashes. Some saltwater got into my eye from the ocean, because real men don’t cry. It came to me and I said in my mind, “You’re free now Aunt Marie, enjoy the journey.”
The captain then walked over to the edge and tied the basket to two lines, one attached at the top and one attached at the bottom. Dale, and Marie’s daughter lowered the basket into the water, then lifted the bottom most line to turn the basket over. The ashes poured out along with the flowers and the post it notes. A bell rang eight times and we all tossed our flowers overboard as well. Her journey starts anew, the Humbolt current will take her down towards South America then across Asia, then to the north pole and back again for all eternity. She will be there with my grandmother, with my grandfather, and eventually with Dale, with my father, and with me, and probably my brother. It is kind of a weird feeling knowing where your body/ashes will be if everything works out as it should.
We said our goodbyes and the boat circled three times and then headed back to shore. We ate at the food place right by the docks and had a good time. That is what mattered the most, that people came together and had a good time after this. I am sure my Aunt Marie would have been happy knowing that.
Nice that she is finally at rest, travelling the world, once again.
