Dear Ones, The image of a PINE BOX seems to be emerging as a topic of another story ... and as it has, I would offer the story of a "pine box". As the day of Fred's memorial service was dawning our son Bob and his son, Mason went to the barn here at Songaia where all reusable and some not so, are kept. Much of the salvaged material was Fred's doing ... "it might come in handy one day" ... Fred's body was cremated so it was his ashes were available for the ceremony. However, it seemed appropriate for a man whose whole life had been one of simplicity and frugality to have the image of the pine box as a means of burial. Bob and Mason built the burial box with several pieces of wood that they found ... they fashioned it with love, a bit of sanding so it would be smooth and brought it into the house just before the memorial service. Yes, yet another ritual was immediate ..... each of the family members decided what objects Grandpa Fred needed to take with him .... a piece of lichen (Bruce) , a Kenyan statue (Bob) ,his wedding and community (silver) rings (Nancy), a piece of blue cloth (Nancy), a puzzle piece (Sandy). There were several other items the strangest of all was a piece of bread with spaghetti sauce on it - spaghetti was one of Fred's very favorite meals. The second anniversary of Fred's death comes very soon, 9/9 2012. Although he continues to be missed, quoted, remembered with his writings and stories, songs and of course, his presence, our lives are full and good. A wooden owl sits high on top of the gazebo in our Songaia garden - the gazebo was dedicated to Fred during our Festival of the Earth in May of 2010 - the owl was found and place on the roof in Fred's honor .... his middle initial is O - for Orville. Our community seems to find, create and use spaces for sacredness, song and ritual at a moments notice.... it is certainly one of our most wonderful gifts. With love, Nancy