Passing Under the Golden Gate

Rarely can an event be executed with such grace, dignity, and emotion as you hope for as you plan. The ash scattering of my grandmother was beautiful beyond any of my expectations, and free of the many complications I'd feared.

My family members have been known for some distinctive traits, most of them things we work to repress in order to function with the rest of society. Reverence is definitely not on the list, but after a beautiful day on the 53 foot City Lights yacht, reverence for my grandmother was exactly what I felt as I sat on the edge of the boat with her 4 children and my 4 siblings. The music was appropriate, the sun was shining, wind was minimal, and flowers floated on calm waters as we spooned Grandma's remains into one of her favorite places: the San Francisco Bay. She was the matriarch of this clan for my entire life up until November 7, 2017. This wasn't an easy clan to manage, but she claimed us all as her offspring, as well as loved ones. She might even call us her beloved ones.

Her 96 years were full. Full of wit and laughter, experiences of land and sea, as well as plenty of mystery novels and crossword puzzles.

This day of saying goodbye gave me new insight into what family is about, what it takes to keep it going, and some excitement for what the next generation might hold.

Thank you, Barbara Evelyn Dunn Sterk for all you gave during your fruitful life and dignified death. We all loved you.