Points2Ponder

“A dozen balloons, stuck in a tree—just as planned-Perfect as can be!”

                                     Points2Ponder

                                                                                                       By Alan P. Scaglone

Sometimes, you just gotta laugh—even IF it’s not appropriate or expected… sometimes, it’s just what the doctor ordered!

 So we had my brothers “Ashes to Ashes” Service—we spread his ashes in two places he would have wanted to be spread.

We put so much thought into this—one was at his daughter’s grave and the other was…a park where he and his daughters and cousins spent a lot of time.

I had organized the Saturday morning family gathering for 10am.

Just in time to go pickup the dozen lavender helium balloons.

Helium balloons? For a funeral or Ashes Spreading Service?

You’ve never done that?

We did it for my Aunt Ciria’s service—at the end of the service, we gave the balloons to each of the kids and stood in a circle and all said “We love you!” and let them go!

It was beautiful and…symbolic!

We were releasing our loved one just like the balloon…to soar into heaven, never to return to earth!

How fitting and freeing—everyone loved it and asked, “Can we do this for Joe?”

Sure…why not?

Just have to order the balloons and pick them up.

Thanks to my sister Kay for doing the ordering—that reminds me—I owe her for those balloons!

Note to self—send her a check! Sorry Kay…Check’s in the mail, I promise!

POINTS2PONDER  Why do we think everything has to be planned out and won’t be perfect unless it turns out exactly as planned? Sometimes, the funniest things in life are…impromptu!

So Bella and I get there early to set up. Something I always do—get there early!! Not something most people pride themselves on these days—promptness! But that’s another column!

I pull out the balloons and take them over to Joe’s daughter Nikki’s grave.

It just seemed fitting—he was coming back home to his little girl.

I wrapped the ribbon around Nikki’s flowers at her gravesite—for safekeeping, until everyone got there.

People started to arrive.

I greeted his widow Denise and her family.

I was able to share with her the love story of our parents Joe and Rose because they are also buried near Nikki.

It was just a beautiful Saturday morning.

Picturesque vista of May in Florida.

Sunny, bright, blue skies, slight breeze…

Did I say slight breeze?

All of a sudden there was a gust of wind…

And someone said “There go the balloons!”

And…there they went!

Into the big oak tree above Nikki’s grave—just high enough so that we could not get to them, but just low enough that they were hovering over us!

And I thought, “Joe—even til the end, you are calling the shots! You caused that gust of wind so you could mess with my plans of a perfect service!”

And I laughed—inopportune yes; Funny? YES and again-- YES!!

I laughed and laughed and laughed!

They stared and stared and stared!

Then I said, “Even in the end, Joe gets his way!”

Then… they laughed too!

And then…we had the perfect service…

With a dozen helium lavender (Joe’s favorite color) balloons overlooking:  our memories, our statements, our collective singing of Amazing Grace…and our parting prayer!

And it really was…perfect!

Just the way it was meant to be--

Lavender balloons…in the tree!

Guess our plans are good, but life has a way…of making other plans… and it all turns out… as it should… just perfect!

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