Ashes, like the Bearman, is a boyhood friend of mine, and the seagull he's referring to....

When my stepfather died, 7 or 8 years ago (I'm not real good with chronology), we had a funeral for him in the open air, beside the lake. It was one of the rare times during the 90's that I was in Canada. It was a bluesky and fluffy-white cloud day, and the wind was strong. Many of my old friends, even though they didn't know my dad very well (as he was a bit on the shy, reclusive side), turned up, which was heartwarming.

Several people spoke that day about him, myself included, and for long long time, a pure white gull hung, effortlessly floating on the updraft blowing up the grassy bank beside to the lakeshore, over the right shoulders of the people speaking, not more than 4 or 5 metres behind them, seemingly watching the assembled mourners.

It meant nothing perhaps, but many people remarked on it later, and its presence spurred...well, thoughts of things larger...in many of us.