ceremony

The Perfect Ending to a Deeply Personal Day

Posted by Barbara Techel
The Perfect Ending to a Deeply Personal Day
Visiting Frankie’s statue at Bookworm Gardens

It was the perfect ending to  such a sacred, deeply moving, magical day as I laid Frankie’s ashes to rest on the 5th anniversary of her passing yesterday morning. On Tuesday I wrote about how I came to this decision for this special day, and yesterday I shared how I followed my heart and how the timing of how this private ceremony would unfold. 

It became obvious to me as the last two days have unfolded that I have touched what my friend Diane said, as the collective heart. There was a small part of me that hesitated in sharing such a deeply personal experience because a part of me felt vulnerable. But now I have nothing but gratitude for doing so.

So many of you here, and on my Facebook page, shared so many beautiful thoughts and love that it truly only enriched this special moment in time for me. Also hearing from many of you sharing that I’ve helped you by being open with my heart about this experience, well, that means so much…and I know Frankie is so proud of that.

There are moments in life when you look back and you are able to really see the synchronicity and perfect timing of things – how life just flowed – and you were being guided by something bigger than you.

Such is the case the last two days – and really even before this. Last week I had gone to a second hand store wanting a new (or rather, I should say, pre-loved) casual dress or two. And it wouldn’t hit me as how perfect it was the one I found when my friend, Jessica sent me the pictures she took of me yesterday afternoon with Frankie’s statue at Bookworm Gardens.

I wasn’t even sure I was going to go to Bookworm Gardens on the anniversary of Frankie’s passing, but after scattering her ashes I knew I wanted to. And it just so happened I was having lunch with a lovely young lady, Jessica, who is my neighbor, and just graduated from college and will be getting married later this summer.  

The serendipity of us having lunch together near Bookworm Gardens, never really knowing each other too well all these years we’ve been neighbors… well, that is a whole other story I’ll write about some other time. But I have no doubt that God meant for her and I to be together yesterday, and for her to be the one taking pictures of me with Frankie’s statue.

While my love for Frankie and what we shared so deeply between us is something that will be with me always, being at the children’s garden yesterday, seeing her statue there, knowing her message lives on – touching new lives each and everyday – well, now I’m at a loss for words. 

The only word I can find is GRATEFUL and grateful I’ll always be.

It was the perfect ending to a day filled with such love and peace that I will carry in my heart forever. And thank you again to each of you for being a part of our journey.

When we share something from the true depth of our souls….and touch that collective heart…I truly believe we all heal.

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The Final Sacred Step. But Not the Final Goodbye.

Posted by Barbara Techel

The Final Sacred Step. But Not the Final Goodbye.

I didn’t start out to be with you, sitting alone on the beach starring out onto the ocean. But then out of the corner of my eye, I saw you rolling toward me, your ears blowing in the wind.

I was so happy to see you and scooped you up and gently placed you in my lap. We sat silently letting the water lull us dreamily into another realm as the waves lapped softly onto my feet and my wide-brimmed straw hat shaded your sweet face.

The feel of your silky fur against my arms and your heart beating with mine moved me to tears as they slid slowly down my cheeks.

It’s okay, she said. 

Knowing she understood my deepest thoughts and emotions I knew we were connecting in this most magical moment.

Those ashes in the box lovingly resting on the shelf are not me, she said. They are only what is left of what my physical body was.

Who I really am is alive and well in spirit.

You aren’t letting go, but rather releasing me fully back to where it is I came from.

You are helping me to fully integrate back into home.

And that home is with the stars and universe, safely and lovingly residing with our creator.

A place you can join me at anytime in your thoughts or heart until we meet again on the other side.

But you see, I’ve been preparing you for this day.

I’ve watched you grow stronger with each passing year.

And you now understand that I never left you. We have always been connected in heart.

Letting go of what is left of the physical of my ashes will not change that, but only deepen what is true.

In the inmost part of my being I understood everything she was conveying to me. And I was okay.

And I’m ready more than ever for this final sacred step.

To release, fully in trust and faith, and a knowing in my heart that this is the right thing to do.

Let’s walk, she said.

So along the shore I walked with her sweet, wise self rolling beside me.

There were no more words or thoughts to be exchanged. We just simply were.

We had come to an understanding and my heart full circle of healing.

And just as she had come to me, I stood as she rolled once again down the sandy shore on her own and then faded back into the light from which she came.

I stood for a moment in deep gratitude and then turned to walk back down the beach. While once again alone with my thoughts, I now rest more peacefully in a new space of knowing that I am truly never alone.

For all the magical, loving, blessed moments I had with my dear sweet, Frankie, will always be a part of me. 

—

Tomorrow, June 21st marks the 5-year anniversary of my “walk ‘n roll dog,” Frankie’s passing. What I shared above is what came to me in a mediation as I get ready to scatter Frankie’s ashes around my writing cottage tomorrow morning. This idea that came to me earlier this year – but really a knowing I have deep in my soul that this is right and the timing is perfect.

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