On the day we released our papa’s ashes to the sea, I was witness to a true miracle and then, the day after to another that was more beautiful than words can convey. My family and I were in three separate cars on the Oregon coast looking for a private place to put our papa to rest. We proceeded to Haceda Head Lighthouse where there was a small beach that my brother and sister had envisioned us scattering his ashes. When we arrived, the parking lot was full and the beach was crowded with people. Each of us said to ourselves at the same time, “No way!” It was papa telling us that this was not the right place and he guided us further up the coast. We eventually found a beautiful secluded beach. We could see from an elevated vantage point on the road that there were less than a handful of people so we pulled off into a small dirt lot and parked. Together the family walked, my sister carrying papa’s ashes hugged close to her heart, down to the beach. The walk was a long uneven dirt pathway with small drop-off that led down to the beach. We walked for a couple hundred yards out toward the water and came upon a rock that seemed to perfectly mark the spot. My mother and brother took a seat on its flat surface. We had a short remembrance and the two of them along with my husband, niece and brother-in-law watched as my sister and I slowly carried papa’s ashes to the ocean. The air temperature and water on the Oregon coast is very cold but at no time did we feel it as we walked into the surf. We entered up to our waists, opened the bag, placed it in the water and let it fill up. As the sea mixed with the ashes, it created a cloud of light grey which quickly permeated the water all around us. As the ocean drew the water away from the shore, we looked down to see lightening bolt like streaks pulling the ashes out to sea. We were both crying tears of joy as we said goodbye knowing it was just how he wanted it. He was home. We turned around motioning our fingers and waving our arms to express what we were seeing. When we met the others back at the rock, we told them of the magic we witnessed in the water. It was a beautiful experience for everyone.
Steve had taken several photos and videos that day. The next morning while I was looking through them I came across a picture that showed my sister and me standing side-by-side looking at the waves just after we released his ashes. I thought it captured everything perfectly; the beautiful blue sky, the sea and moment papa was released. It was just how I wanted to remember it. As I examined the photo closer, I began to think, “I wonder if papa left a sign.” I zoomed in on my sister and me and as I slowly zoomed out, the sky above us came into view and a word clearly spelled in the clouds jumped out, “LOVE”. The discovery was like an explosion of electricity that shot through my body. At first it was hard to comprehend and all I could say was, “Oh my God!” over and over. I took the photo to Steve and asked him to look at the sky and tell me what he saw. He immediately gasped and said, “Oh my God Gary, oh my God, it says love!” This was not just a miracle, it was a miracle that was photographed and videotaped. There were no planes in the sky writing words. There was no editing or Photoshop used. It was our papa giving us the greatest gift of our life, a confirmation that he is still with us. Not only was this proof to me of an afterlife but clearly an ability to manipulate the environment after we leave our bodies. Papa led us that day to the perfect beach with an unmistakable rock to permanently mark his final resting place. He showed us something that we will never forget, that love never dies.
