A group of folks dropped into Buzzy’s Country Store the other day and after talking to them I learned that they were on a mission. They were about to board a boat and scatter their mother’s ashes out in the Bay. (I started to make a joke about bringing Mom in the Store for one last visit but thought better of it.)
I hear of these ashes-scattering-trips-on-the-Bay maybe two or three times a year. Each time the story is told, the family member will add the caveat “We know you’re not supposed to do it but…….” Just about everyone who comes into Buzzy’s either has a relative or knows of someone whose ashes have been scattered in the Bay.
Led me to wonder about the whole cremation-scattering-of-ashes business and I learned that over 40% of all burials are now cremations (click here.) (Also check out this WSJ article which talks about a guy who got arrested for spreading his mom’s ashes on the Philadelphia Eagles’ football field (click here.) And yes, the scattering of ashes in the Chesapeake Bay is a no no (click here.) However, I did find this outfit Eternal Reefs that specializes in the business and operates out of Ocean City, Maryland.
Dust to Dust, Ashes to the Bay
Sting wrote a song about his father dying and how he wished that he could have buried the old man at sea. Had he ventured into Buzzy’s he would have found several folks there who could relate with him on that matter.