(6th Post) Letting Go
September 23, 23
Up to this point, I had been travelling with some of my mother’s ashes. Most of her ashes were laid to rest with my dad in the Mason First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden in April of 2023. However, she wanted some of her ashes released in Oliver Lake in Indiana, where she often called home.
Her fondest childhood memories were there at Lake Oliver. A summer cottage became home for my mom and her brother, sisters, and numerous cousins; it was sanctuary to play, swim, go riding and listen to summer concerts.
After hearing the passing of one of the cousins, mom learned he was going to have his ashes spread over the lake. She thought that was an amazing idea! She was having a good day and was very clear, so I asked her if that was something she would like, to have some of her ashes taken to Oliver Lake. She lit up and with the biggest smile and she said yes! So, I told her I would find a way and make it happen!
Caregiving has its own responsibility, but fulfilling someone else’s final wishes is another level. In carring her ashes with me, gave comfort and a sense of still upholding responsibility yet to deliver on a promise.
My niece Allison offered to take my brothers and I up to Oliver Lake in her float plane. She offered this on a day she was already celebrating a major event in her life, (check out my next post! 😉) I told her we didn’t need to do this on her day, but she was more than happy to do this for us and grandma!
It was a perfect morning, sunshine, cloudless, and the water was still as glass. It was my first time up in a small aircraft, bonus it was a float plane, triple bonus it was with Allison flying!
Between my brother Jim and his daughter Allison, we got a sky guided tour of northern Indiana. Pretty amazing on so many levels!
We finally spotted Lake Oliver and landed in the middle of the small lake. We all got out onto the floats of the plane and Jim did the honor of letting mom go. It was as if she swam away in the current.
A sense of release and letting go came over me as I watched, and we took a moment to say our goodbyes once again.
Letting go to move forward is the hardest thing we learn in our lifetimes. It’s not to forget, it is for our memories to allow them to be eternal.
“Angels around us, angels beside us, angels within us, angels within us. Angels are watching over you when times are good or stressed. Their wings wrap gently around you, whispering you are loved.”