Letting Go

The call had been months ago, clear back in the middle of summer, but is still seemed like it was just yesterday. Having lost both his parents decades ago, her father was much better prepared to deal with the shock of it all, but hearing her mother wailing in the background was something she would never forget. Her grandfather said it had been sudden, a massive heart attack in her sleep, evidently grandma had not suffered long. The funeral had been a week later, a ceremony meant more for friends and distant family, than for her husband, children and grandchildren. Today on the other hand, would be their opportunity to remember and say good bye. A heavy snow had fallen overnight and the tree branches were thick with fluffy white snow, a lovely powder day that grandma would have loved. Quietly they rode the lift up the mountain, each person lost in their own thoughts, each of them trying to maintain their composure. When they reached the top, they all went to the scenic overlook where they had so often congregated, grandma’s favorite view on the entire mountain. They each took a turn, sharing a funny moment or a favorite story about grandma. Her grandfather went last, reflecting on over sixty years of life together and the legacy that they had created, a legacy that was built around a love for the mountains and enjoying them together, and most importantly, a love for each other. When he finished, he opened a small container, releasing some of grandma’s ashes into the wind, ensuring that a part of her would always be present at the place she loved so much.

Snow sports: The Family Tie That Binds.