Between the Two Trees

A few months after my father passed, we spread 30% of his ashes at a beach in Margate. This was a place where we, as a family, spent a lot of time together and he was happy there.

A few months later I spread another third of his ashes in Gympie where he spent time in his childhood.

I kept back a third because it felt like he needed to be spread somewhere else. But I didn’t really know where that was.

Yesterday, as his 4th anniversary, I knew it was time to fully let him go. So I decided to head back to that beach although it just didn’t seem right. As I drove through the torrential rain, I kept hearing the words “between the two trees.”. As I drove along Gympie Road, I saw the Lutwyche Cemetery on my left and just instinctively turned left at the lights without giving it a thought.

I found myself sitting on Turner Road looking at the back of the cemetery asking myself “What on earth are you doing here?”

My father’s father was buried somewhere in this cemetery. I had never visited his grave before and had no idea where to start to look for him.

“Between the two trees.”

The minute I got out of the car, the rain stopped. I asked Dad to direct me as I had no bloody idea where I was going...... and I walked directly to his father’s grave. It was situated directly opposite where my car was parked – between two tall oak trees.

I just knew it would be there.

I never met my grandfather. He died many years before I was born. But seeing his headstone, exactly where I imagined it would be, I burst into tears of joy when I saw his name. I was suddenly transported back in time witnessing my father as a confused hurt and angry teenager standing in this very spot burying his father decades before he should have.

And then I knew what I had to do.

I spread the remainder of Dad’s ashes on his father’s grave. And as I did, I cannot describe how significant it felt - the most incredible peace.

It was the right thing to do.

And now I have somewhere to visit him – between the two trees.

The minute I hopped back into the car, the torrential rain began again.

Regardless of the silliness in the world today, it is clear that we are still surrounded by magic.

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for The Manick Label, Designer UX for Aquarius™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry, Music Business Coach for Music Means Business.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2022