Memorial Sevice

We held my mother's 13th and brother's 3rd memorial service today.

These pictures were taken about half a century ago when my late bro and I were elementary school students. And we were at our city-park which has lake, amazement section and botanical garden. When I was preparing this post, I smiled the way how we preened for the camera (hope this is the right expression). And my mom was wearing casual kimono in the picture, even at that time not many women in Japan wore kimono in daily life. I remember she loved them and it is also my sweet memory with her seeing her change into diffrent type of clothes looking feminine, sprucing up a little, p;)  She taught me how to wear them and fold them when we put them back to the closet; but I could not master to tie Obi "帯" (^^;)

Despite the fact that my father is not in any condition to attend the service or no one lives there, I wished to hold it at my parent's house. I appreciate my relatives to get togather for mom and bro. After the family monk's service, we visited the grave and moved to the lunch place. We (aunts and cousins) really had nice time talking as these services are the good chances to see them. Typhoon was approaching and might have taken the course close to our area. Whew, it made me worried a bit but it didn't, I am so relieved it all went without a hitch.    

We are in the equinoctial week now.  This flower, "cluster amaryllis" blooms during this season, is called "彼岸花. higanbana" in Japanese and Higan means the special river. Buddhists believe that on the day of the equinox, the sun rises from the exact east and sets in the exact west, and the spirits of the dead can cross the river which divides this world and the other world.  

                 
                              *I wish to dedicate this flower to them*

 Thank you so much for stopping by.  I'll visit you soon from tomorrow♡♡♡