A Fond Farewell to Maja

The deepening snow beneath the trees

It was a day Maja would have loved….it snowed, and not just a bit, but sticking on the ground snow.  Kevin said on Friday it was beautiful up there, and he had hiked to the top.  We arrived to whiteness and 30°F with wind blowing the snow horizontally at times.

A chilly day

In attendance were the Braggs,  Maja’s family and close friend Christine & her family from North Carolina.

As I said to Kevin when we got out of the car, Maja was there with us and had ordered up the weather for the day, especially for us.

Due to the weather we stood on the porch and held the service.  Kevin read a note from Misha (who could not come), and Chuck, Chuck, Kevin and a couple of others told a few Maja memories.  One that stands out was told by Kevin (more or less like this): Maja was driving her Mercedes down Sunset Blvd to the beach with the kids in the car.  Their friend was driving a VW and started to pass.  Kevin to Maja: “Mom, the VW is passing us” (sound familiar to anyone??), so Maja steps on the gas and goes around the bend on 2 wheels (as the memory goes) and then BLOP, back on all four wheels.  Anyone who remembers Maja’s driving, knows how true that story sounds!!!

Maja’s favorite tree

We also learned that when Maja went to Nursing School in San Bernardino, she and her German girlfriend (Christine’s mom) had the two highest GPA’s  for their graduating class.  Not bad for two ESLers!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we walked down to the meadow, and placed Maja’s ashes under a pine tree near the rock outcrop.  Kevin placed a lovely stone and pine cones over the needles to mark the spot.

Afterwards, back at the parking area, Christine’s twin girls (age 10), were ready to hike to the peak….so off they all went in the snow and wind.  The Braggs and Almdales left for birding adventures below the snow line.

Kevin and Maja

Afterwards, back at the parking area, Christine’s twin girls (age 10), were ready to hike to the peak….so off they all went in the snow and wind.  The Braggs and Almdales left for birding adventures below the snow line.

Christine’s twins have a small snowball fight

Kevin mentioned he asked his Mom what she thought death was like.  She replied that she imagined herself flying over the frozen mountains of some northern landscape, with icy fields and pine forests below, the snow glistening in the moonlight.

So, Maja, Saturday’s snowy whiteness was for you, letting us know you were there waiting for the iris to bloom and the birds to sing.

The group gathers to pay last respects to Maja

To Maja, we raise a toast.

Lillian