Wake

While we were coming home from our trip to the salt marshes in Cape May our boat was hit by the wake of a bigger boat with a careless captain. We were pitched back and forth pretty hard. Our captain was angry and said it always made him mad when people went sailing through life without ever thinking about what they were leaving behind them. “People should be careful about their wake!” was what he said. I immediately thought of another song sung by the Four Bitchin’ Babes that talks about leaving something beautiful in our wake.

When we had our will done a few months ago the lawyer said the one thing we needed to do now was to write an ethical will or a legacy letter. It is not a legal document. It is a letter of what you what you want to tell your family, the things you want them to hear from you one more time. I’ve been trying to think of what to put into such a letter and I just don’t know what I want to say. Should I just recount some good stories and memories? Should I just tell them how much I love them? Should I talk about faith and hope? What kind of things would you want to hear in a letter from someone you loved? Is it important to write such a letter? Haven’t I already told them all the things I should say?

 "For Carolyn" by Pat Crawford Brown:

 When we were small and ocean waves were high

I'd run across the sand and call

"Please!  Wait for me!"

you waited patiently without a sigh

then hand in hand we'd face each wave

oh, we were so brave back then

do you still wait beyond the wave

and can you hear my rhyme?

if so, I'll wait here on the sand

I promise to be brave

just tell me when it's time

and hold my hand

 "Something Beautiful" by Christine Lavin

 As sad days go it was a bad one

she died way too soon

her friends and her family gathered

like rings around the moon

everybody had a story

how she touched each life

she was a mom, a sister, an aunt, a volunteer,

a grandmother, friend, a wife

her poems and watercolors

were lovingly displayed

beach scenes and summer dreams

 never fade

outside a breeze was swirling

the stars across the sky

inside the grief washed over us

as we said good-bye

    But she left something beautiful in her wake

    as our spirits sink, our voices break

    her work remains for us to see

    her paintings and her poetry

    she left something beautiful here on earth

    we mourn her death, but celebrate her birth

    she’s on a journey we all will someday make

    and look, she left something beautiful in her wake

As bad days go it was a sad one

flowers ringed the room

cousins greeted cousins they haven’t seen

since that wedding back in June

but it was June of 1990

amazing how time flies

we never seem to get together

unless someone marries or someone dies

Remember all those baby pictures?

they’re those teenagers over there

we secretly are thankful no nose rings

or spiky purple hair

they do not remember us

but you know, that’s OK

it's enough that we are here

and reconnecting today

    She left something beautiful in her wake

    they quietly cry, their young hearts ache

    her children’s children, her legacy

    with her paintings and her poetry

    she left something beautiful here on earth

    we mourn her death, but celebrate her birth

    she's sailing where waves never break

    and look, she left something beautiful in her wake

        We have all gone home now

        back to the working grind

        I can't help but think about

        those things we leave behind

        As I sit in traffic

        pound the steering wheel

        inch along this highway

        pray my soul will heal

    You've got to leave something beautiful in your wake

    as you sail on for heaven's sake

    leave something good at the end of each day

    to help us through, light our way

    leave something beautiful we can share

    to make us glad that you are there

    you may drift off course and make mistakes

    but you can still . . . 

    Leave something beautiful in your wake

    keep your spirits up, whatever it takes

    leave something good at the end of the day

    to help us through, to guide our way

    give us something beautiful we can share

    to make us glad that you’re still there

    you may drift off course, and make mistakes

    but you can still leave something beautiful in your wake

    leave something beautiful in your wake . . .