Green and Peaceful

We love Kathy and want to her stay but we have all moved forward with her and are looking to how Kathy would like to be buried. I hope that you can read this with the love that we all have and not feel like it is too soon to be talking about this. It is of course, too soon. We don't want her to go but she will and she wants it to be done to the best of her ability. So today, we (including Kathy) gathered at the spot where she will be buried.

Hutch, Freddie Johnson and Susan Marynowski, of Conservational Burial Inc (CBI), have all been working behind the scenes to help make Kathy's desire for a green burial happen. CBI is a newly created non profit dedicated to providing a green space that people may rest in forever. Hutch and Freddie have been pushing paper feverishly in Tallahassee... and it worked. They received the necessary document yesterday.

Kathy will have the honor of being the first green burial in Alachua County. CBI has purchased more than 70 acres near Prairie Creek Ranch. It is really beautiful. The are oaks and wild flowers everywhere. Birds of every make and model were singing and chattering in the background. A swallow tailed kite sailed over head as Kathy and Hutch spoke about the ultimate way to "Go Green". Meg Niederhofer (City Arborist and also married to Hutch) picked out a beautiful magnolia which will be planted on Kathy's burial site. It may sound weird or maudlin but it wasn't - it was sad yes, but mostly peaceful. So it is done and we all feel better prepared to make this the journey Kathy wants.

BUT I have to add - she looked really good this morning. The hospice doctor gave her several prescriptions for pain and Kathy said that yesterday was the first day in the 22 years since her accident that she did not have pain. She slept the whole night through.. another milestone !