24 Comments
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Zinjanthropus Pacificus's avatar

Absolutely brilliant! Love all these observations of life laced with irony and humor. More please...

I can't knock Ross as being some cheapo goods store. I still have my rolling carryon suitcase that I bought 40 years ago. It's been to France at least 15 times. Maybe I'll have my ashes put in them, and see if they get past TSA.

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

The thing about this is that my dad wouldn't have found it that funny. Now, if it had been my mom, she'd have been laughing. Leo rising people have hardcore pride.

Sounds like your Ross suitcase has served you well!

Craig Stark's avatar

Great write up. The shopping bag experience has a very David Lynch quality to it — ironic, humorous, both dark and light. Thanks for sharing.

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Thank you, Craig. And yes—totally Lynchian.

Even more bizarre is what happened to my mom's ashes, which had been placed in a trunk in a car in LA, and then that car was stolen. Madness followed.

Dabney Lawless's avatar

Once again wonderful. Thanks for sharing these absolutely human memories. There was a reason I picked you for my reading when I felt the weight of my parents decisions once again.

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

So sweet, thank you, Dabney! Was honored to have worked with you on that inquiry.

Annie Hoy's avatar

As the last living person of my natal family I wish my 2 daughters and 4 grands an equally surreal experience with what remains of me, their natal dad and their stepdad. We haven't talked about how to deal with the end. I guess once you get into your 70's it might be time and that time is now. Perhaps next Christmas would be good. Or maybe just let them wing it at my ending. We do tend to lean to the Stoic side. My rolling bag awaits in the closet.

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Yes, one's 70s seem the right time. And, hell, anything will do. Suitcase, vase, kitchen pot...lol

Patrick Brennan's avatar

Thanks...a really beautiful memoir contemplating Dads ,sons, brothers . ....at this incendiary ashen moment in time. birthday/deathday

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Thank you, Patrick!

Louise Valiquet's avatar

Merci !!!

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Glad you enjoyed, Louise!

Louise Valiquet's avatar

Your description of the space in your brain that was different, is exactly what happened to me when my Dad died, although was never able to describe it as you did ! Happy this was not only for paid subscribers, i miss reading everything you put out there, i retired a couple of years ago and had to cut down on some subscriptions !!

michelle prentiss's avatar

Beautifully written ! I remember a similar episode with my brothers and my Dads remains in a grocery shopping bag .. we rode around in his golf cart with them …recounting our own stories of bizarre treatment and oppression… and the big man reduced to ashes..

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Thank you, Michelle. These stories are so great, and the release that occurs with the memories sharing is potent.

jacquie weills's avatar

Sweet story.

jacquie weills's avatar

And being a dedicated gardener, I want to die in the garden and be composted🌺

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Absolutely! 🌲

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Thank you, Jacquie

Marilyn's avatar

I love how you've taken a very difficult and, for me, surreal and foggy time, (the box I grabbed from the desk at the funeral home, it's weight almost took me to the ground), and wrote in your beautiful way, revealing the true humanness of this particular chapter in life - the death of our parent/s. Brilliant and beautiful. Thank you Frederick.

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Such lovely feedback! Thank you, Marilyn.

sch's avatar

i loved reading this while drinking my morning coffee. it was a lovely respite from the news of the day/ i have a long story about my mothers death that is far too long to share here but perhaps will send it privately. you'll get a kick out of it. thanks for this.

Frederick Woodruff's avatar

Thank you, Shannon. It seems that Saturn in Scorpio folks take the parents’ passing to levels that other folks don’t. The highs are very high and the lows very low. And then, often, there’s the black humor.

Holly Howard's avatar

Beautiful!