Lake Michigan

"You can do it..."

I can still hear my mother's voice... "Go ahead...it won't hurt you." Mamma's reassuring smile gave me the courage to take her hand and walk into that water. It wasn't like what I've seen in cartoons and in comic books. There was no lonely island in the middle and it wasn't crystal clear like in my science book at school. Nonetheless, here I am, mustering up all the courage a seven-year-old can muster to walk with my mother into Lake Michigan.

It was dark, but the water smelled fresh. The waves were scary but not too scary. When we got out far enough, my mother counted to three and yelled "Jump!" right when the next wave was about to crash into my face. I jumped as high as I could, up and over the waves. We laughed and laughed that day, and laughed during every visit since.

My mother's last romp in the waves was shortly after her 90th birthday. My daughter and I walked with her as my oldest granddaughter documented everything on video. It was one of the most precious moments of my life. So now, here I stand on the beach with my mother's ashes, honoring one of her last wishes. I was to give part of her to the place she loved most besides home.

With the rest of the family looking on, I gave her back to Lake Michigan.