Uncle Phil's Final Journey

Hello everyone ... I just recieved this email from Marilyn

In it, she says "Well, my friends, this will be my last message to you all related to Phil’s very long journey ..."

Let's bow our heads and raise a glass of love and respect as we read:


Dear Friends,

On Sunday, February 1 it was my honor and privilege to escort Phil’s cremains on their final journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The day was beautiful with lots of sun and a light breeze. Four family members and I boarded a chartered boat in New Port Richey and started our journey (two miles out a channel to the Gulf and then another three miles into the Gulf to international waters). The ride out was peaceful and we talked about how much Phil would have liked it. Once in international waters our captain, Spencer Johnson, stopped the boat. I said a few words and put Phil’s ashes, which were in a water soluble bag inside a biodegradable sea burial casket, into the water at Latitude: N028° 16.9 Longitude: W082° 49.8. We then threw rose petals on the water and waited for the cremains to drop below the surface. Captain Spencer then took us out to see the “fish houses” off Green Key. This is something that Phil had always wanted to see up close, but never got the chance. I feel that his spirit was there with us as we enjoyed looking at them. On the way back we had a picnic, which consisted of a sub platter from Publix (Phil’s favorite) and chocolate chip cookies (another one of his favorites). It was a lovely, peaceful day. That evening we went to Bone Fish Grill (Phil’s favorite restaurant) and ordered Bang Bang Shrimp (another favorite) in his honor.

Well, my friends, this will be my last message to you all related to Phil’s very long journey from health, to sickness, to death, to final disposition. I have been blessed to have you all near me all along the way. You have given me courage, strength and hope. I can’t thank you enough for all that you did for me as I shared this journey with Phil.

I will say to you what I say every time I tie a shoe lace onto Phil’s memorial tree at Belden Hill Golf Club and what I said as I put he cremains in the Gulf, “May you soar with the eagles and swim and frolic with the dolphins and forever know that you are loved and remembered”.

Thank you all.

She attached two pictures of the ceremony





Phil, take care.

 

Feel very privileged to be included on Phil's final journey. Love to Marilyn...

 

... and I've just emailed the following reply to her.

Dear Marilyn
I created a thread on our TFP forum and copied your message to it.
https://www.thetfp.com/threads/uncle-phils-final-journey.9004/
You wrote
"I have been blessed to have you all near me all along the way. You have given me courage, strength and hope. I can’t thank you enough for all that you did for me as I shared this journey with Phil."
I hope I am properly reflecting all of us here who knew and loved Phil as I tell you that your keeping us in the loop allowed us to stand at each stage by the roadside, that you helped us move on as you helped him move on, that you carried us as you carried him, and that, like you, our gratitude is beyond thanks.
Let us join you in voices of thunder, lightning and laughter, and may you hear us now and for all time, Marilyn:
"May he soar with the eagles and swim and frolic with the dolphins and forever know that he is loved and remembered."
Love and respect from all of us.
(My real name was here)Zen of TFP

 

Thank you, @Zen
God bless you, Marilyn and Phil.

 

thanks for sharing, i still miss him. may god bless marilyn and all his family.
fuck cancer

 

I'm so sorry I missed knowing him.

 

ol' phil was one of the good ones. I feel privileged to have shared a b&c and some barbecued ribs with him.

Thank you Zen, for sharing this letter with us.


yeah, fuck cancer!

 

Wish I'd had a chance to know him better.

No doubt about it, fuck cancer.

 

I only enjoyed him shortly,
fuck cancer

 

The Unka remains beautiful at sea or elsewhere.
His smile too.

 

Thank you for sharing. I had hoped to meet him in person one day. He really was like an uncle to many.

 

It sounds like a wonderful 'burial' that Phil would have wanted and enjoyed.

Thank you for sharing, and all the best to his family and friends.

 

I am so glad we named a sub forum after him. I don't miss him as much knowing he's still "here".

 

Marilyn emailed me half an hour ago, and asked me to say hi to everybody here.