Pebble Seeds of Hope and Remembrance

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." -- Miriam Beard

I recently met up with my friend Katherine, for a lunch date and plans to go see Redwood Park in Surrey, BC. We had made plans to go to The Fairy Forest that is nestled deep into the wooded areas of the sprawling forest. 

Katherine and I have been friends for over a year- we met through The Langley Hospice Society- in a Bereavement group. Her sorrow was full of heart-wrenching angst in losing her one true love, her husband Glen. 

Overtime, we connected and months later, we have shared in many special places that sees Glen and Shayla shine their love and light upon us. We envision the quintessence of who they were to us, in the bursts of sunflowers that stretch towards the sky. Our hearts skip a beat when we discover a mailbox- reminisce of The Lake House, actually has touching messages from people all over the world. In the same way, we marvel at a pebbles release in locations that have extraordinary connections to Shayla.

The last time I saw Katherine, she gave me a USB stick, full of pictures, videos and showing her part in The Heart Pebble Movement. In sharing her travels, my friend has also opened herself to the cause that plants pebble-seeds of HOPE and REMEMBRANCE on this earth. 

From the pounding surf of Morro Strand State Beach in California, to the dancing kaleidoscope lights of the Bellagio Resort, Katherine’s release of pebbles for Shayla-each time-is a hug around my grieving soul. 

In May of this year, adventure was shared between Katherine and her daughter, Jasmine. The duo travelled to the Yukon, to see Katherine’s best friend, Amy. Over the time I have known Katherine, she has expressed the friendship and strong bond she has with Amy. Over the course of our grief journeys, we have shared the people who have been there for us as we struggled with the loss of our loved ones. My friend made it known that Amy has always been her rock as Katherine mourns Glen. 

Yukon

While in the Yukon- Katherine went to a special place and set one of my daughter’s rocks I had given her- on a section of bridge, overlooking the surging river below. Carved, long ago, was her name- a poignant reminder of a memory that had passed, yet forever remains embedded in the white painted wood. The placement of one of Shayla’s pebble was then given to the churning waters. With its release, came a sense of embracing the beautiful care-free spirit she was. 

Her travels, along with Jasmine, took them back to California and this time the freedom of another pebble from Shayla’s collection, was let go at Pismo Beach. The area of glistening sand colliding with the ocean water brought me solace in knowing the pebble had found a new home. 

One of the things I treasure is that both a mother and daughter had taken part in the cause; a gift in itself, as I no longer have my babygirl to cuddle, love and tell her how precious she is to me. Yet the memories we shared still remain everlastingly… imprinted on my broken heart.

In getting to know Katherine, I have valued her friendship and have been grateful for all she has done to honour my daughter. Every photograph she has taken or video she has shared tells a story. One in which connects her and I both in our tragic losses, but also in the love we continue to have for those we dearly miss.  

By T.L. Alton

My Only Sunshine

 Elizabeth Mitchell -http://youtu.be/4Z_8PI0AKHg

When I created The Heart Pebble Movement, I could not have imagined how many lives would be affected. It is interesting how an element of nature, which can be found all over the earth, is the foundation that I find the most solace in.

There is a friend of mine who out of everyone I know, has released the most amount of pebbles in Shayla’s memory. Before she travels, we meet and she is one of my cherished girlfriends who I entrust with a few treasured pieces of my daughter’s collection. Time after time, Katherine has brought back to me, pictures and video of the brilliance in setting the pebbles free.

Last year, we met in unfortunate circumstances. She had lost her beloved husband and I, my precious child. What initially brought us together in sorrow has seen us share in many dinners- with tears flowing and laughter between us- we openly talk about our grief. 

                                         

                                      Morro Strand State Beach ~

Without wanting to sound morbid, Katherine and I chat about death as if it were wedged in between our booth seats. We acknowledge our pain in order to process our loved one’s passing. Our sense of humour is now tinged with the afterlife and our relationship is known to circle around the what-if’s…mostly on my part.

Yet, whenever we meet and she hands me a USB stick of a video of California, where she set in the ocean one of my daughter’s pebbles, I simply melt from the kindness and effort she took in letting it go. In January, she embarked on a trip to Las Vegas. What impressed upon me was the time she delegated to where and how another small rock would be put into water. She chose a fountain where the lights are all coloured and seem to dance effortlessly across the top of the water. Thin columns of vibrancy shooting up into the air and cascading down, over and over was the background for the pebble. It makes my heart skip along as a smile comes over me. 

Las Vegas ~

Several months later, she would be in the Yukon with her daughter Jasmine. Once again the thoughtfulness in taking part of The Heart Pebble Movement is a poignant moment.

One thing I have come to cherish about Katherine is how much she sincerely gets what the cause means to me as a bereaved mother. Although neither of us can imagine what the others loss is like, we have found a middle ground in sharing our tragedies... echoing the sentiments that we do not walk alone. 

“Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself the way you wish you had been all along.”

By T L. Alton