Martinez Regional Shoreline

We gathered today, Kim's family and friends. We met, got to know one another, and know another again. We ate pizza, and Anna brought a fabulous cake (cake is my thing, you know), and drank frosty sodas and waters, and shivered in the breeze from the river.

I noticed how everyone was at ease and spoke open and wide, not small. Roxanne read, and I read some from Kathi's letter of memories. Recollections, tears, laughs, "Yup, that's Kim!", and knowing nods. We talked a long time about who we are and who we were and what we know from being in this world with Kim and from being together on this day.


I opened the container and held the bag with Kim's ashes. It took my full-force concentration to bless her remains, and I flung her dust into the air. The strong breeze took some, then there was no breeze and some clumped to the ground in front of me, and the breeze picked that up and carried it along. It is done for us, her remains rest here now.

Something Kim didn't like about this place was the cold of the wind constantly blowing in off the river. I used this wind to scatter her ashes, not as evenly as I hoped but I'm relying on nature to do the rest. In time her ashes will soak into the soil with moisture from the river air and her remains will come back up to warm in the sunlight as pink wild flowers that grace the lawns. Pink was her favorite color once and for a long time.

This shoreline is an official reserve preserving the marshes and abundant wildlife. It is also a busy and dynamic location, which is agreeable to Kim's nature; with its active recreational boating and commercial shipping; with the nearby railroads, whistles blowing; with the constant flow of this great river. Ducks and geese and black birds and coots will scratch the grass for grub and chase each other in social play. Rainbow kites decorate the mellow park sky; locals use it for family life, like Kim and I for Saturday cheeseburgers at the picnic table. Those days for us are gone, yet she will always be here in rest for us to visit and enjoy her blooms and green grass.

The sunsets will be hers each day.

Peace, my love.