My dear wife Karen was a bit unsettled when I got home from work recently.
She obviously had something out of the ordinary to tell me.
We’d received a package, she said, leading me up the stairs to the guest room.
It was covered with brown paper for shipping. I saw the word Cremains stamped on the outside.
My mind raced. Frankly, I didn’t know what to think.
The first place I went was the passing a year ago of my sister Frannie. But why would my brother-in-law send her remains here in the mail? Something in her will, perhaps, about a year down the road? I tried to call him, but as usual, my call went right to his full message box. He’s taken over Frannie’s cell without the savvy nor wanna to learn the finer points of voice mail. The only way we connect is if he sees my name pop up and answers, or if he calls me.
So.
I called my sister Dory, and she said she and the kids had visited with him a week past and all was fine. No mention of a package.
I looked at the brown wrapper more closely.
My father’s name was on top of the return address.
He passed more than a dozen years ago.
Karen and I opened the box.
It was from his stepdaughter. Her Mom, married to Frank for more than 30 years, had recently passed away, she explained. She thought his ashes belong with us.
I still had Dory on the line as we solved the mystery.
I’m OK with this, I declared.
She agreed that a trip north to honor the receiving of Frank was due. We’ll figure out what we want to do. Spread? Memorial?
Welcome, Dad.
For now, though, Frank rests on a shelf, the first visitor in the guest room of A Bitty Better.
Life sure brings surprises.
Mark Bialczak 
All the best to you and your family over Christmas! ❤️
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Thank you, Jesse.
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It’s a shocking surprise, Mark! I’m with CM about sending it a different way. In the Asian culture this would have caused an uproar. But what matters is that pops had arrived safely. And I believe Frank will let you know to do….just listen to your heart, Mark. ヾ(´▽｀;)ゝ
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Thank you so much for your kind contributions here, Patricia.
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that is quite a surprise but you handled it very well. i feel confident that you’ll find just the right way to pay your respects. you could not have a more unexpected first guest, i’m sure –
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My sister and I will come up with many stories as we figure out what the next step should be, Beth.
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It’s good that the ashes wound up with someone who will treat them with respect, but really – couldn’t she have given you some advance notice? Or sent them a different way? Packages get lost in the mail all the time – how awful would that have been?
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All’s well that ends well, CM. The package was well labeled as to its contents, and postal workers took great care, obviously.
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Bless
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Thank you, Willow.
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💜🍁🍂🌹🌹
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Well that was unexpected! And a most unusual first guest in your guest room. That could certainly lead to some good story-telling down the line.
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Yes, this is in the Bialczak Family Forever book, for sure, Kathryn Grace.
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You wrote well, Mark.
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Life made me do it, Ann.
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Kind of nice, if surprising, that your dad could visit on his way to his final resting place.
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It is quite a turn in life, yes, MBC. Glad to have him here.
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Oh, my. It must have been quite a shock, and maybe better if you’d had some warning ? Still…you will find a way to honor him, Mark.
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It came out of nowhere, yes, Van. Now my sister will come visit, I’m thinking.
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