Grandma's ashes
Oct. 14th, 2009 10:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eve_primeMy step-mom called me today to thank me for her birthday card, and in the course of the conversation she mentioned that she had recently scattered my grandma's ashes. I asked, "In the ocean?" Because that's where my grandpa and uncle had both wanted theirs scattered, in fact near Heceta Head, as shown in my icon. No, it turns out my grandma wasn't as into the ocean as they were (I had never known this), so my dad had thought she might like hers instead at the elk-viewing meadows near Hwy 38.
So my step-mom drove the 70 miles south to Florence, where I grew up, and where my grandparents had lived for about 40 years, and spent the night with a friend there. Then the next day they drove the 20 miles south from there to Reedsport, then inland to the place where the elk hang out. There are usually about a hundred of them, and there's a parking lot, and good places to watch them.
But they weren't alone - there was a couple there, and my step-mom felt awkward about scattering the ashes in front of them, but also didn't want to just stand there waiting 'til they left. So she went over and explained that she had to do this, for her mother-in-law, and hoped they wouldn't be offended.
And they were very kind, and turned it into a ceremony for her. They held her hand while she scattered the ashes, and said the Lord's Prayer for my grandma. I felt very touched, hearing that these strangers (from California) had been so compassionate for my grandma and my step-mom.
Here's where they were: the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area.
This one has a very nice photo: two Roosevelt elk in the tall grasses.
So my step-mom drove the 70 miles south to Florence, where I grew up, and where my grandparents had lived for about 40 years, and spent the night with a friend there. Then the next day they drove the 20 miles south from there to Reedsport, then inland to the place where the elk hang out. There are usually about a hundred of them, and there's a parking lot, and good places to watch them.
But they weren't alone - there was a couple there, and my step-mom felt awkward about scattering the ashes in front of them, but also didn't want to just stand there waiting 'til they left. So she went over and explained that she had to do this, for her mother-in-law, and hoped they wouldn't be offended.
And they were very kind, and turned it into a ceremony for her. They held her hand while she scattered the ashes, and said the Lord's Prayer for my grandma. I felt very touched, hearing that these strangers (from California) had been so compassionate for my grandma and my step-mom.
Here's where they were: the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area.
This one has a very nice photo: two Roosevelt elk in the tall grasses.