April 26, 2021
The ashes came to my home in Maryland from Southern California, shipped via special delivery by the aptly named funeral home Ashes to Ashes. They arrived encased in a rectangular, polished, dark wood box about the size of a loaf of artisan bread. I immediately opened it to make sure it was not empty. It was not.
The child I loved, worried about and cried over for more than 54 years was physically reduced to a powdery dark gray substance. I was reminded of a fine black sand beach.
How could this be my Brady? But it was.
Brady had died three weeks earlier. Cancer killed him following a three-year struggle. In accordance with his request, he was cremated rather than buried, the customary bodily disposal route for Jews, even secular ones.
That New York Vibe and a Life in San Diego
Ana Bowens and Benjamin Schenk, who met at Dartmouth, had a pared-down guest list and ditched the reception dance floor in favor of contests and talent shows.
Ana Bowens and Benjamin Schenk were married at the Wythe Hotel Nov. 7 in Brooklyn.Credit.Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times
By Tammy La Gorce
Published Dec. 11, 2020Updated Dec. 21, 2020
By now, 2020 wedding guests have read the boilerplate. “In light of Covid-19, we want to let you know your health and safety are our top priority,” banners at the top of wedding websites say. This is often followed by this year’s version of the big reveal: whether the wedding is on or off.