Wednesday evening it was cold, windy and snowing. With two outdoor jobs to complete, Dave needed a coat. Our first stop was at the mall. I told him he would never find a winter coat in April, but I was wrong. He found a great, warm $200 coat for $23 in Macy's and it fit.
Second stop was at Lowes for a torch, fatwood, and some kindling. Then on our way to Marshall, Michigan for some sentimental tasks.
Mom pre-planned her cremation, but wouldn't give me a wish for the disposition of her ashes. She said we could sprinkle them where ever we felt they should go.
Dave and I sprinkled Mom's ashes on Dad's grave.
Next stop was more complicated. We had Mom's wedding dress and a few other very personal things we wanted to burn. But where?
We ended up at a park along the river. It had everything we needed, especially a screen to put over the flame because it was very windy.
Dave started the fire with a Bernzomatic Torch, the torch our grandfather, Mom's father, helped design when he was a consultant to the Turner Corporation in 1965.
One moment I'll never forget is when we realized we needed to stir the flame and separate the layers of the gown. I looked down on the ground and there was a long tongs looking back at me like it had fallen from the sky.
Dave and I think Mom would have enjoyed the spectacle of us together burning the dress in the cold, wind, and snow.