In Memoriam

One week ago we interred my father's ashes. He'd asked this to be done beside Chew Valley Lake in a commemorative forest being planted by a company called Life For A Life. Basically, you buy a sapling of your choice and pour the ashes into a hole dug near its roots. A small plaque is installed nearby. The idea is that you're combining doing something for the environment with raising money for a charity of the deceased's choice - in Dad's case a local children's hospice. There was brief, informal, non-religious ceremony led with unfussy sensitivity by the gardener who tends the plots, whose blissfully fitting name was Mr Forrester. My three youngest kids were there. Sweetly and reverentially intrigued, they made me very proud. Sixthborn in particular was intensely yet quietly fascinated by Grandpa's remains, so neatly packaged in their box and the elegant carrier provided by the undertaker. Me, I'm not sentimental about dead bodies. The ritual, though, served its purpose well for all concerned, not least the dear departed.

Comments

[Noosa Lee]

Dear Dave

I'm so sorry for your loss. I've followed your father's illness through your posts. You advocated so strongly for his welfare with hospital officals and shared with us how difficult it was to juggle that with family life.

How lovely it is to read this post and see your youngest child participating in her grandfather's departure from this world. She may not understand it now but she will thank you later for guiding her through it. What an astonishingly brave man you are Dave. Be very proud of yourself.

xxx

Pants

[Dave Hill]

You're being far too kind to me, Ms P. But my children were outstanding, if I do say so myself.