Many years ago, I visited Northern Ireland and hoped one day I would return to visit the Republic.  I had heard so much about the beauty of the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher. 

Of course, my thoughts were always that they would be more wonderful places for Dave.

After spending a few days on our own, we joined a tour to take us along the Wild Atlantic.  Not all, however, was wild.  Some places were simply serene and beautiful and ever-so-green.  Such a place was the Killarney Valley.  The highest mountains in Ireland, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, form the backdrop of the many lovely lakes and sweeping countryside.  We cannot forget the comical scene of a dog resting atop a donkey along the roadside with a picture perfect view of Caragh River and rolling hills behind them.

We traveled on to the lovely, peaceful Dingle Bay (pictured above) and Dingle Peninsula.  This 25 mile bay empties into the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the westernmost places of Ireland.

We visited the little village of Portmagee.  It is the departure point for the adventurous to visit Skellig Michael (Michael’s Rock), which is eight miles off the coast of Ireland.  The seas are very rough and climbing the rock stairs can be quite tricky. (I could definitely see Dave doing this!)  A Gaelic Monastery was founded between the 6th and 8th centuries on a twin-peaked crag.  It is here the monks found the solitude they sought.  (More recently, it was the location of the final scene of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.) We were quite content to be able to see the island from the picturesque shore.

We were able to see all of these beautiful places with perfect weather.  Our guide said, “We are very lucky, indeed.  I haven’t seen such beautiful weather in a long time.  It is especially perfect to see the Skellig Islands.”  (He didn’t know about my “weather angels.”)

Once we finished the tour, we took a day trip to the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede Bridge.  Dave’s ashes were already in these places so I felt like I was visiting him.  Dave’s ashes are in all of the places that I mentioned in this post, as well as the Cliffs of Moher.  (My weather angels took a day off that day!)

Just before Dave died, we had agreed to do some traveling together.  We each mentioned places we’d like to go. One of the places we both agreed on was Ireland.

Now I feel there’s a little bit of Dave in some of the most beautiful places in Ireland; north AND south.

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Alaska is wildly beautiful place with such extremes.  One afternoon you can be walking alongside a glacier-fed lake and watch harbor seals casually sunning themselves on ice floes and the next day hike through a colorful maze of wildflowers.   You can cautiously watch a black bear stroll down to the water’s edge, yet laugh out loud at the antics of the sea otters. This dichotomy is what makes Alaska so special and I know Dave would love these special places I chose for him.

We explored the moraine along the Pedersen Glacier. The glacier-fed Aialik Bay was lovely against the clear blue sky.   Birds flew overhead while the harbor seals floated by and were not at all intimidated by humans.  Pedersen Lagoon also had ice floes, but much smaller.  The reflection in the water of the mountains and the glacier made for a picture perfect moment.  We kayaked along Pederson Lagoon and hiked through bogs and wildflowers to meet up with a canoe on the remote Addison Lake.  The water was simply roiling with salmon; such an amazing sight.

On the tenth anniversary of Dave’s passing, I lit a candle of remembrance on the shore of the Kenai River.  I had  sprinkled his ashes in the Kenai nine years ago so it was a full circle.

Dave would have loved each and every place where his ashes now rest. I know it in my heart and soul.

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The remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew had battered the coast of Peggy’s Cove the day before our visit causing power outages up and down the coast.  But the day of our visit, the storm had swept out to sea and it was clear and cold with gusty winds.

As we drove along the winding road toward the lighthouse, the beauty and quaintness of the little fishing village warmed my heart.  It was as if time had stopped there.  There was a serene beauty in the view of the fishing boats quietly docked along the inlet.  As we continued toward the point, the landscape opened up to us revealing the magnificent view of Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and the angry surf pounding the surrounding rocks.  With the strong winds and the spectacular view, it literally took our breaths away.

This was definitely another place for Dave!

With birds swooping overhead,  I carefully walked down some of the rocks to Margaret Bay and sprinkled Dave’s ashes into the surf.  As I was standing on the rocks, I was shocked to hear the mournful sound of bagpipes nearby.  I felt joyful, yet saddened, that such a wonderful thing could be happening.  The timing was just perfect.

Dave would’ve loved this place!

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I shared a wonderful trip with a very special person who made every effort to take me to the most enchanting places in FL. So naturally, I made it a point to share the best with Dave.

Located at the southernmost point of the US mainland in the Everglades was Cape Sable. This coastal shoreline is known by many as the wildest and most remote beach in all of Florida. The area is completely undeveloped. It is about 18 nautical miles to the nearest town of Flamingo. Since there are no roads, water is the only way you can get there.

What also makes Cape Sable extraordinary is the thousands of unique seashells that the tides have deposited along the shoreline; my favorite being the fighting conch shell pictured above. The beauty of the shells, the remoteness of the island, and the peacefulness one feels just being there are just three of the reasons why this is another special place for Dave.

On another day, we headed out early in the morning to catch the breathtaking sunrise on Biscayne Bay. As we were searching for the perfect spot to fish, we stopped at a lovely place called Old Rhodes Key. The vivid green water quietly lapped against the lush mangrove trees along the shore. A small bird kept dive-bombing my line while a small yellow butterfly kept fluttering by. It was an unforgettable moment in an amazing spot; a place teeming with life and beauty.

Even though Dave’s idea of fishing was to sit back with a beer, cast out his line, and hope a fish might bump into it, he did love the serenity, the view, and the sheer clear-your-mind relaxation that fishing can bring. At the very least, he is smiling at his mother for bringing him to such special places.

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It had been awhile since I traveled and I hadn’t had any plans to do so by Dave’s birthday.  I knew Bob and Jan were planning a trip to Tennessee with their biking friends.  They know how “special places for Dave” are so important to me and didn’t hesitate to take Dave along on the trip.  They were sure they’d experience some beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains.

The first stop was to Clingman’s Dome. This is a brief excerpt from the Clingman’s Dome website:

“At 6,643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point.  It is located along the state-line ridge; half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee.”

The peak is accessible after walking a steep half-mile trail, which, of course, this is what Bob and Jan did. 

“Vistas from the Dome are amazing.  On a clear day, views expand over 100 miles and into seven states.”

What a special place for Dave!

But as they traveled a short distance from the Dome, they came upon such a magnificent view that they had to stop and sprinkle Dave’s ashes there as well.  The first time I saw the picture, it caught my breath and immediately gave me chills.  As a sacred mountain to the Cherokees, it radiates pure spirituality.  It is a honor that Dave’s ashes share such a beautiful place.

A special thank you to Bob and Jan for going out of their way to find two special places.  And much gratitude to their friends who joined them in remembering Dave.

Somewhere, Dave is smiling!  I know I am, but with tears in my eyes.

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For Dave’s birthday, I wanted to do something different; something in his honor. I didn’t want idle time to sit home and think. I know Dave wouldn’t want that either. But, first, I would like to share a story with you.

Nine years ago, as we were leaving Dave’s funeral, a terrible storm was brewing. By the time, we got home, it was a full blown thunderstorm. I recall seeing a flash and immediately hearing the deafening crack and saying, “Boy, that must’ve hit close by.”

It wasn’t until a few days later that I learned that a lightning strike had killed two teens while they were trying to leave a soccer field in Hillsdale. One of the boys, Lee Weisbrod (pic attached), lived only a few houses from me.  I never knew Lee or his family, but I did know the unimaginable pain his parents had to be experiencing.

One day as I walked Molly by their house, Lee’s Mom, Nancy, was outside. I introduced myself. Only a mother who has lost a child can fully understand how another mother feels. Everyone tries to say the right thing, but only another mother truly knows.  It’s the look in our eyes. But Nancy’s pain had another level; he was her only child. In that first conversation, we realized both boys shared the same birthday, July 6^th, but ten years apart, and both loved soccer. They were both also beginning new stages in their lives; Lee beginning college and Dave contemplating his next step in life.  We couldn’t understand why this happened. We just couldn’t make sense out of anything.

We became close friends as we took this horrible journey together. We compared feelings, shared tips on how to make it through, and began to laugh again. But when it came to Dave and Lee’s birthdays and anniversaries, we both just knew what the other was feeling.  Every year those days were the most difficult to get through.  The heat a constant reminder for me and the thunderstorms for Nancy.

One day a few weeks ago,  I e-mailed Nancy and said, “How about we do something crazy to honor our boys? How about zip-lining?” Nancy thought it was a great idea to have an adventure that day.

With butterflies in our stomachs, but smiles on our faces, we headed for Kittatinny Ziplines in Barryville, NY. As we were getting geared up, I said, “Can you imagine what Dave and Lee are saying now? I bet they’re shaking their heads in amazement!” It’s a 3000 foot zip-line soaring at speeds up to 50 mph.

To say my heart wasn’t in my throat would be a lie. It’s a 36 story drop. As the guides released us off the tower, I yelled, “This is for you, Dave!” and sprinkled some of his ashes over the trees below. Off to the left was the Delaware River. But, honestly, we were going so fast, everything just whizzed by.

Since we couldn’t carry a camera, Kittatinny was kind enough to share some of their file photos (the one above is us) to show how exciting the experience is.

Exciting is an understatement, but doing it in honor of our sons was so right!! We stepped out of our comfort zone and enjoyed some laughs, too. Dave and Lee would definitely applaud.

Later that night, after our usual reminiscences, we lit luminarias in remembrance of our boys!

Happy Birthday Dave and Lee from your adventurous (?) Moms.

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When Bob and Jan mentioned they were planning a trip to Maine, I knew there had to be beautiful places for Dave.  I was so happy that they were kind enough to take time from their trip to find just the right place. 

Saturday morning in Bar Harbor, we decided to forgo the planned group ride and do something on our own, like hike! After talking with the front desk at the hotel, we realized we couldn’t use the public free shuttle to get us to the trail head in Acadia National Park, without burning hours. Bob decided that we would pack our minimal hiking stuff into the MC and drive to the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail Head, and park the bike.  It’s always unsettling to park a bike in a remote area and leave it for fear of theft or vandalism. First of all, it felt great to be in the woods on our own 2 feet after spending the last 2 days riding up to Maine from NJ. We stopped at various picturesque spots, snapped some pics and kept going onwards and upwards. Our goal was to get to the top before the riding group and meet them at the summit. About halfway up, I realized that I didn’t have Dave’s ashes, and they were back at the hotel. Damn!  When we finally reached the summit we positioned ourselves on a rock ledge right along the roadway and waited for the roar of Harleys. The look on their faces when they saw it was us on the ledge, was priceless. Bob snapped away, and pretty much got pics of all of them smiling and waving at us. We met them in the lot at the top for a group photo, and hiked around the top of Cadillac Mtn. with a few of our club members.  Beautiful view…breathtaking, but filled with tourists.

We said our goodbyes and headed back down the mountain to finish our hike. In total, we ended up doing 6 miles. Very hot and drenched in sweat, we hopped back on the bike  and Bob drove us back to the hotel to get on some dry clothes and head back out. This time I put Dave’s ashes in my little fanny pack I carry with me on the bike.  We’re back in

Arcadia Park, and ready to do the 27 miles scenic loop around the park.  The loop is one way, so if you pass by a scenic spot and miss it, you are out of luck. We passed some scenic areas, Sandy Beach, and the famous Thunder Hole…packed with cars all along the road, parking areas filled up. Finally as we kept going on the road, we started to get away from the touristy areas and Bob pulled up a hill into a parking lot. First thing we heard when he shut off the engine was melodic ringing of a bell coming out from the ocean. Bob right away looked at me and said…”Thanks Dave….this is the spot.”  As we crossed the road to get to the cliffs, we could see a green buoy in the distance swaying back and forth. It was the source of the bell.What was amazing was the buoy swaying back and forth with a ringing bell that was in synchronization with the natural rhythm of the ocean. We both felt his poem embodied this beautiful spot.

I was immediately filled with emotion as I knew this was exactly the place Dave wanted to be in. We left the “safe” area, and started to hike down (in our clumsy riding boots), and navigate down a ledge away from the few people that were there. Yes, they did look at us pretty strange… I gave Bob the bag that held his ashes, and he positioned himself to release them.  Just as he was about to do it, he heard a woman’s voice yell from below, “OFF BELAY.”  There coming up to the ledge around a corner was a Lady Climbing Guide, with a harness filled with climbing gear, slings and well you know…the whole 9 yards!  Bob quickly let go of the ashes before she could see what we were doing.  I snapped a bunch of pictures, and of course we took pictures of the Guide. (Dave would have thought she was a cutie), and climbed back up to the safe zone.

We both looked at each other in complete disbelief.  27 miles of possible spots and we are “guided” to this spot? First hearing the ringing of the bell, and then at that special moment the guide yells “Off Belay,” for us signifying our deep and unique connection to Dave sharing our love of climbing with him.

Needless to say, I was moved to tears, and filled with so much emotion and grateful that he is still very present to us. It makes me feel so aware of how huge the universe is and really how out of control we really are. I am grateful that Dave is very much with us on our adventures and obviously tagging along with us. Bob thinks that Dave picked that spot for us that signified our connection to him.

This sounds like the perfect spot for Dave.  It’s just too bad Dave didn’t whisper in Jan’s ear to remember his ashes for their hike!

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