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By the time we motored out of the marina
the sun had come out and it had warmed up. On the boat
was Mom, the brothers, wives, ex-wives, close friends.
About 16 in all. The boat was a beautiful 45' wooden
sailboat. The breeze was light and the water calm. A
wonderful day for a leisurely sail. Michael's ashes were
near the helm. Ollie had brought Michael's foul weather
jacket that he wore sailing and laid it near Michael's
ashes. I put the jacket on. It's mine now. When we got to where we were going Ted cut the engine. Then he told another Coke story on Michael. When Ted first went to work at Knight and Carver Michael was given to him as his mentor. Michael had his tools laid out on some cheesecloth. All the chisels were sharpened and polished with beautiful matching handles. Everything was perfect. Ted had his tools in a bag. Not one of his chisels matched. With a serious look on his face Mike said that you had to be fast around here. Ted asked if it was because the foreman was after everyone to get the job done. No. There was enough time to do the job right. You had to be fast around here so that you could put down your tools and have a Coke. At that Mike reached over picked up a Coke and popped it open. Ted knew he was going to be OK. Then I read the poem I had written for this. Those that could shared in the spreading of the ashes. Some spread rose petals on the water. Mom gave her rose to the water to join Michael on his journey. A Mickey Mouse balloon scudded across the water. From Wendy's daughter Sarah. Wendy gave a rose. Roger poured a Coke in the water. Diane gave daises. Daisy. A name Michael had for her. Looking out over the transom. Light reflecting off the water with the rose petals and flowers spread behind the boat. Tears. The final good byes. It was over. Ted unfurled the jib and we sailed back to the Marina. The champagne was opened. Goblets were passed around. Some drank champagne. Some drank Coke. I drank Coke and champagne. When we docked Teds's wife Kathy gave photographs of Michael on the stern of the boat to everyone. Final farewells and new friends. The next few days were splitting up Michael's stuff. Some misunderstandings. Some panicky feelings. The realization setting in that Michael was gone. Everything resolved. Everyone at peace with what is. Saturday I stopped by Michael's apartment. The movers had come and gone with everything that Ollie and Joshua were keeping. Wendy and Sarah were there with Ollie and Joshua. We split up the rest of his clothes. I took some. Wendy to take some to Diane. I am taking some to Ted next weekend. I saw Terry later. He returned my .22 rifle. A memory of my dad. We went into the garage. There were some of Michael's tools for those that want them. Sunday morning Roger finished moving the last of Michael's stuff. The apartment was cleaned up. The door was locked. Sunday evening we all gathered at Mom's for dinner. Michael's portfolio was there. People looking through it at the stained glass windows, the houses, the boats. Stories about them all. Good-byes to Ollie and Joshua. They will be leaving Tuesday or Wednesday. My good friend Blaine found a haiku by Basho. Nine words that say what it took me all these pages to say.
Nothing intimates
May circumstances bring us together again. You have all my love. | previous | |
