In Loving Memory ~ Dad  

Well…I hope everyone had a lovely 4^th of July weekend! I had a great weekend and wanted to share it with all of you. I wanted to update you with the news of spreading my dad’s ashes this past weekend.  As I had mentioned in my previous blog; I planned my 4^th of July weekend to spread my dad’s ashes in our old hometown. It was one of his only requests if and when he passed.

My dad took a job offer in 1983 at Ocean Reef’s Resort in Key Largo Florida. He went down there first to assess the position and the living situation. Once he was settled in with the new job; he then started to look for a new home for us. We spoke with him every night and he was so excited about the Keys and could not wait for us to get there. We then followed my dad to the keys where he found a new home for us on Seaside Drive.  We lived directly across from the Atlantic Ocean. It was amazing and we stayed there for a few years.

We had so many great memories while living there. We would go out fishing and had traps set for catching sea food. We use to eat crab, lobster and shrimp like it was chicken. Yum...Yum…I remember it like it was yesterday. That is also the house where we brought my new little baby Brother Rodney home and I got my first brand new Huffy bike with the banana seat. We spent Christmas there looking out the window and seeing the Atlantic Ocean. Wow…so many great memories for me, my dad and the rest of my family which is why he requested that I spread his ashes in the ocean back in Key Largo. Of course at the time I told him he was crazy and I would never do such a thing…

My dad past in October of 2007 and I finally got up the courage to spread his ashes. It was such a great thing for me to do and I finally got closure for the passing of my father. My plan was to take my boy friend and my best friend and her husband. They were there for me when my father passed. I then made reservation for a boat rental so we could go out into the Atlantic and spread his ashes. We got down there July 3^rd early in the morning went to sleep and got up first thing Friday to set out for the hunt of my old house. My mom remembered the name of the street, but that was about it. Well after talking with some locals we managed to find my old house. It was still there and a young couple recently moved into the house. They shared with me some stories of them moving in. I took pictures and reminisced with everyone. There had been some changes to the restaurant across the street and there was another new Lodge directly in front of the house which now was blocking the view of the Atlantic.

We then decided to walk across the street to Snappers which was the restaurant and marina there on the water. After about 15 minutes of walking around and looking at the Atlantic I came to realize it was where the boat rental was located which I had reserved for Saturday. How ironic is that? Everyone got goose bumps as we realized my dad brought me right to our old house and the boat rental place for me to use to go out to sea and scatter his ashes. It brought peace to the whole situation.

Today is the day…We got up early Saturday morning to head on over to the boat rental place. I was extremely nervous and had small anxiety attacks as we were packing up the boat. It was just the nervousness of what was soon to be happening. As we left the boat dock I became calm and felt the comfort of my father.  We went out pass where all the boat traffic was as we wanted to find a nice calm spot to put the flowered lays in the water. I made these flowered lays and attached a collage of pictures of the family and my father. I also had a couple of American Flags attached because my father was a Vietnam Veteran. I placed everything in the water and then I had a moment of silence and then began to release the ashes from my hand into the wind. We shared some memories and another moment of silence. It really felt good and brought a sense of relief to me. We sat there for about an hour as we watched the flowers float away – we also took some pictures for memories and we then began to celebrate the life of my father. We all had a lovely day!!

In Loving Memory ~ Dad 1944-2007

I always like utilizing my breaks to the fullest…This break I am going to take a mini break and head down to the Florida Keys. To many the Keys are known for great snorkeling and scuba, but to me it is filled with many great memories from my childhood. The Keys is also a place my father loved and enjoy thoroughly while he was alive.

To fill you in…I lost my father back in October of 2007. He passed due to heart complications and was at the ripe old age of 63. My dad was a joker so he would get a kick from the statement.  The truth of the matter is 63 is very young. And we were very unfortunate to lose him this early. However he lived a wonderful life as he fought for his country, raised a family of 4 kids, loved and laugh always.

At the time of my father’s passing we had a Memorial Service at a nearby family church and then my father was cremated. I have had his ashes in my possession since because I did not have the strength to release him properly.  I have reached a point where I feel I have enough strength and now’s the time to scatter my father’s ashes.  Each of the children will have a small urn to keep some of dad’s ashes and then the rest will be scatter throughout the Keys. This was what my dad always requested I do if he were to pass. And while at the time I told him he was crazy and I was going to bury him I could not do that now. It is much different when someone is gone…you want to do things as they wished and give them the respect they deserve. So I am granting my father wish and I am going to spread him about in the Keys were he enjoyed life the most; near the Ocean.

I will also have a nice little ceremony and have some flowered lays with pictures attached. I will send them out to sea and say a prayer for my father and his life he led. This is going to be good for the both of us. I need this closure for myself and my siblings.  I miss my father very much and still have days filled with anger and tears because he left me. I believe this will be something I will continue to have for some time to come, but I think scattering him and having some closure will help a lot.  

In Loving Memory of Rodney Reed – Love you dad!