Celebrating MPC

May 15, 2012. This was the day we all took a few steps backwards and said "good-bye" to Mike.... again. This was the day of the interment of Mike's ashes in the Coyne family plot. It's hard to believe this brief ceremony would bring back such a flood of raw emotion and loss, but it did. For me, especially, it's as if I was set back seven months. My goal for the day was not only to put Mike's remains to rest, but more importantly, to make the day a celebration of his life. The latter is exactly what he would have wanted. Mike's urn, fittingly, was a Red Sox urn, complete with a baseball on top. I got the idea to have friends and family sign the baseball before it was placed back atop the urn prior to burial. At the service, Father Brian Clary (a friend of Mike's buddy, Tim) presided and gave a completely fitting farewell to Mike. In addition to his prayers, Father Clary spoke about Mike's great faith, and his wish that no one lose his or her faith over his fate in this life. Father Clary also spoke about the well-known Red Sox "reverse the curse" sign in Boston, and how that related to God's reversal of the world's curse through His son, Jesus Christ. It was a completely fitting parallel that I know Mike would have loved. At the service, I read a poem Mike wrote a couple years ago. It was a poem about God's creation of woman, and how he thought that creation must have mirrored what awaits us in Heaven. I barely got through the reading, but I was so proud to be able to read another of Mike's beautiful literary creations. In fact, Father Clary asked for a copy of the poem and read it at a wedding he did the following weekend. What an honor. Debbie also read a letter she wrote, and it was as lovely as it was difficult for her to get through. After gathering ourselves emotionally, and saying our good-byes and leaving his urn in front of the stone etched with his name, we moved on to Fenway Park. It was very important for me to make the day of Mike's interment a celebration of his life, rather than just a tearful farewell. I had to make the day something he would have looked at and said, "Well done. Thank you." I couldn't think of anything more fitting than to celebrate Mike's life at a Red Sox game, and we did just that as they took on the Seattle Mariners that Tuesday afternoon. I rented a pavilion suite for the family so we could relax and enjoy one of Mike's favorite places. We all arrived at the park about an hour and a half before game time to take in the sights and sounds, and to see some Mariners batting practice. Debbie and I even made it to the left-field corner to sign the edge of the Green Monster. As a sign of solidarity and remembrance, I got us all shirts to commemorate the day, with the front of the shirt bearing a Celtic cross, Mike's initials and the word "perseverance," and the back saying "Coyne" and his lucky number 23. Before we got into the park, one of the cops outside was even teasing us saying, "With a name like 'Coyne' you must be here to cause trouble." Once inside, we settled into the suite and began snacking on the food generously provided by Mom and Dad C. We watched some BP and some of the pre-game ceremonies. It turned out to be eerily fitting, as it was also a day when they were giving tribute to retired knuckle-ball pitcher Tim Wakefield. During the ceremonies, they paid tribute to "Wake" by bringing out kids/young adults who have been affected by his tireless work with charities, and the songs played were "For Good" from the musical "Wicked" and "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw. Although both songs were directed at Wakefield, we know they were also speaking about Mike. The game itself was great (a 5-0 victory, and a much-needed win for pitcher Josh Beckett), and the rain held off so we would actually experienced a complete game. In the weeks since the interment, I have often felt that I've been pushed backwards. But in my heart I know Mike is above, urging me forwards..... That is what I have to believe.