December 4, 2008

Today would have been Marika's 71st birthday. At this time last year, the family was in Hawaii on our first birthday vacation trip. We certainly could not have imagined that it would be the last time we would celebrate David's, Mark's, and Marika's birthdays all together.

We decided some time ago that we would all spend Marika's birthday in Victoria, and had more recently discussed whether it would be an ideal time to spread her ashes. She had asked for it to be done at Cattle Point, a beautiful spot by the water in Victoria. We were uncertain if the weather would cooperate, and yet, as was the case with her Celebration of Life, conditions were ideal.

We arrived at Cattle Point just in time for the 7:49 sunrise. Its bright red tones were reminiscent of Marika herself. The wind had not yet picked up but there was a bit of a breeze by the time we had walked along the grass and reached the edge of the water.


The urn that we had purchased weighed a ton, so instead we brought the contents along with one of the pots that Mum had made in her pottery phase in the 70s. We decided that we would each take turns scattering some ashes, and that at the end the three of us would do some more together. David started off, then Mark, and then Vicky, before the three of us came together for the last bit.


As we walked back to the car, there was a brisker breeze, and the sun was brighter. We slowly drove off to have breakfast at Rosie's Diner, one of Marika's favourite places, and to continue spending the rest of her birthday together.