When Eli's parents began walking to the shore from the area where the memorial service took place, they had to cross this shallow stream. I was reminded of how in the Bible the Israelites entered the promised land when they crossed the River Jordan. There is something about crossing a river to get to the other side that is part of many religious traditions and I felt this stream added a dimension to the experience that was particularly poignant.

After Eli's parents had begun walking a good distance (perhaps a quarter of a mile) toward the ocean, many of the service participants rolled up their pants, or let them get wet, and followed Eli's parents at a respectable distance.

As Eli's parents and friends walked across the sand, the Arcata Interfaith Choir began the Gaté Gaté chant. This is an extremely moving and quiet chant that comes from a Chinese Buddhist tradition and is used to accompany the dead through the "Gate of Death." I imagine that almost none of the people there had heard the chant before, but the softly melodious repetition of "Gaté Gaté" seemed to draw upon a very powerful and mysterious force that supported the scattering of the ashes. For many it was the most moving part of the ceremony.

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