Every Step Of The Way by Patrick Castrenze

Created August 2009; Berkeley, CA

In an elegy addressed to his father, Patrick's "Every Step of the Way" addresses the grief and empowerment he experiences after his father's death. His story is also a reflection on the nine years he has spent carrying his father's ashes in the trunk of his car, and the resulting traces of memory he must face when confronted with the ashes on a daily basis.

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm an organic farmer, a storyteller, and someone perpetually captivated by our intrinsic ability to create personal meaning from place and memory.

Why did you choose this story to tell?
I've been trying to tell this story for nearly 10 years, and it has taken me this long to sort through it all and finally see the story that I want to tell.

How do you think you have changed as a result of making or telling this story?
Composing this story was one of the more empowering things I have ever done.