MUSKEGON, Mich. — Stacey and Alan McCabe have transformed their grief into a poignant tribute to their son, Michael, who passed away at the age of 18. In a heartfelt endeavor, they established a unique wind phone along a trail in Muskegon, Michigan, allowing them and others to communicate with departed loved ones.
On a chilly November day, Stacey reflected on her son, saying, “He was a happy kid. He was a free spirit.” Michael’s life was tragically cut short last October when a devastating incident occurred at home. “Alan found a gun casing on our bedroom floor, and when he picked it up, that’s when he saw Michael lying on the floor,” Stacey recounted, tears in her eyes. The couple’s world changed irrevocably in that moment.
Michael was poised to begin his college journey on a scholarship at Muskegon Community College, marking the start of adulthood. “People complain about being empty nesters. We never got to have to go through that,” Stacey explained, emphasizing the abruptness of their loss.
The McCabes often walk the trail where Michael used to ride his bike. “He loved riding his bike on the bike path,” Stacey shared. The trail, located by the lakeshore, offers a serene setting for reflection, where the wind carries not just leaves and waves, but also the McCabes’ heartfelt messages to their son.
At the trail, they installed the first wind phone in Muskegon County, a space meant for spiritual connection. “We had put this wind phone in for Michael and had the bench put in for Michael,” Alan stated. “He loved being down here.”
The wind phone allows users to make a symbolic call to their loved ones, with the wind carrying their voices away. “It is a phone that is a real phone, but is disconnected,” Stacey explained, highlighting its unique purpose.
Alan stepped into the booth, took a deep breath, and spoke into the receiver. “Hey buddy. Getting ready to go a year and a half without you. I miss you. I miss you a lot, kid,” he said, overcome with emotion. “I love you. Alright buddy, Dad will talk to you later.”
Stacey followed, expressing her longing for her son. “Hi Michael Anthony, it’s Mom. I miss you so much,” she said, her voice trembling. She shared plans with Alan to attend an indoor soccer game, wishing they could watch Michael play. “I love you forever. I’ll talk to you again soon, okay? Bye sweetheart,” she concluded, placing the receiver down gently.
Stacey emphasized that the wind phone serves a greater purpose than just their personal grief. “We didn’t put it in just for us. We put it in for everybody,” she said. The couple hopes the wind phone offers solace to others facing similar losses, providing a space to express their feelings and maintain connections with those who have passed.
The wind phone is located at 1700 Lakeshore Drive in Muskegon. Visitors can find it along the trail, a reminder of Michael and a beacon of hope for those seeking comfort. The McCabes wish that anyone who uses the phone will think of Michael, creating a shared space for remembrance and healing.
