Caught and Released

We released mother Ruth back into the large pond where all life originates yesterday. In the midst of her loving family, friends and caretaker, Leslie and Andrew poured her lavender colored ash into the mighty Pacific. We are indebted to our great friends and hosts for taking us out on their fine vessel.

We left under a slight marine layer. The ocean had a bit of a chop. It was nice to feel the wind and moisture on my face. We made our way out for several miles, a large old sailing ship on the horizon.

A seal popped up out of the water and let us know that we had reached our destination. Then a small pod of dolphins arrived.

We sat on the stern and talked about the importance of Ruth Sherman Gellman in our life. Each of us shared a story and cast a rose in the water. Some tales were happy and some tales were sad. We laughed and we cried. But we had ample evidence that this woman had somehow touched everyone on the boat in a very dramatic way. Her strength, her long standing grace, against the most tenacious and certain of opponents. We all felt incredible sadness when we heard her caretaker Flor share the immense pain of losing her loving friend and companion. Not a dry eye in the house. I didn't have to translate. Some things transcend speech. I think that there was a general acknowledgement on board that Ruth was now free and that it was indeed time. She had equipped herself splendidly in her battle on this earth.

Leslie had picked a piece of music from Mozart for our voyage. As she and her brother prepared to cast off their mother's remains into the sea, the music's crescendo mysteriously turned to its highest volume, although it had never actually been touched by human hand.  It was a beautiful sending off and final release. We toasted this incredible mother and friend with several bottles of fine champagne and finally returned to the rest of our lives. We motored under the bow of the Midway and back to our individual afternoons.

I think that I can speak for the whole family in thanking you all for your generous outpouring of support. This has been a difficult time for us and your words and letters mean so much to the extended Gellman family.