Beautiful story

This is an incredible story I wanted to share (actual names have been changed for privacy) 

My friend Carlie from work (Angel's mom, the cute puppy) go walking every afternoon with our dogs and talk about everything and have become good friends. She listens to me talk about all the pains and abuses I've endured in court and she reminds me she doesn't know anyone stronger than me and admires everything I've done. 

She has bills to  pay and it's been tough for her and her daughter these past months to pay bills. Last week, she told me how embarrassed she was for not having money and had to call her ex and borrow money for her to pay rent. She couldn't make ends meet and we brainstormed up ways for her to get money (ie loan off her 401K, etc).  We didn't come up with any real ideas. 

This morning, Carlie swung by for a morning walk, she was frazzled and smiling.  She had to tell me something.  An attorney called her to tell her she was named as heir to a part of the Dayton estate and they were finalizing probate. She nearly forgot she was part of the Dayton family as her dad ventured away from the family to do his own thing and since passed away.  They did not have to proactively call her to let her know she was an heir and could have simply did a back-door deal, swept it under the rug and divided between the remaining beneficiaries.  Her aunt stood up, however, during probate and demanded that Carlie's dad get his fair share by way of giving it to his two children. 

We walked to South Lake Union and she danced around with so much joy, in remembrance of her father. We then sat down to talk about what my mom meant to me and what her dad meant to her.  She often has said I am one of the strongest people she knows, admiring my strength.  She said that she truly believed that what I had been doing in the Courts for justice was the sole reason that she got the call for her fair share of inheritance and money when she needed it most. 

She then told me what it was like to spread her dad's ashes along Seattle and by the Space Needle and why it was important to move back home as she felt his spirit is there.  It was nice to hear a proper probate and honor of one's life, the importance of spreading ashes as closure.  She asked if hearing her news was hurtful for me, given my court challenges.  I told her it was just the opposite - it was one of most inspiring, beautiful and comforting stories I had ever heard and was so happy for her. It felt like mom and her dad were before us during this morning walk, or some type of angel over us, there was definitely some type of spirit there. 

At that moment, I realized that I will never be able to spread mom's ashes in the way she intended to and accepted it this fact. I realize the spreading of the ashes is only a physical action.  Living a good life is what mom would have wanted for us and this in turn, spreads a little bit of her spirit everywhere, something that ashes would never do.  Fighting for truth and justice in her honor has been tough and to be thanked for it really meant a lot to me today. 

Today was filled with deep and good emotions and provided some more closure for me, realizing and accepting that I am strong and mom would be so proud of us both right now for all that we have done.  

How cool is it that Carlie is a Dayton? She had been following all the Benedict family legacy this whole time and had forgotten her own roots.  I asked her if she was going to change her name to Dayton now and she said no, she has already changed it too many times from two different marriages and didn't want to again. That was funny. 

Inspiring and beautiful.  I love you mom, miss you, and give my regards to Carlie's dad whom l have only met in spirit and by way of his courageous daughter.