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♡♡♡ 

New cellar-phone and Buddhist memorial service

New Cellar Phone

I finally bought my long-awaited  smartphone several days ago. It was funny that it reminded me how hard it was to learn the usage of PC.  I was expecting that my humble knowledge of PC would help me more to be able to use it sooner. However, I was totally crushed to know that I needed to start up mastering another one all over again. I was made duly aware of the fact that I just had a wishful thinking.     Tackling keenly for a few days, I could gradually become accustomed to the function. Finally, now I'm glad to get it. As it works my handy little PC, I can browse through sites outside the house by using the search engine. I can check SNS I have an account in the bed, haha. Being giggled about my struggle by my husband might be worth my while. 
   (I wish to change the wall paper for more famine one♪)

Buddhist memorial service

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_funeral

Last Friday, my granddad's 50th Buddhist memorial services was held by my uncle at his house.

I will quote a part of the site;

Memorial services depend on local customs. Usually, there are a number of memorial services following the death - for example, daily for the first seven days, or a number of services within the first 49 days, or on the 7th, 49th and 100th day, depending on the local custom. After that, there is a memorial service on the Obon festival in honor of the dead. The festival may be held in the 1st year, sometimes in the 3rd and 5th, 7th and 13th years, and a number of times afterwards up to either the 39th or the 50th year.

I consider those days as good chances to see the relatives (especially the ones long after one's death).  My husband's father died when he was a little kid and as he is the eldest son, we had this service many years ago with his relatives. 

I could see my cousins whom I haven't seen for a while last Friday.  After the monk's recitation of  sutra,  we moved to the Japanese restaurant my cousin owns. We had nice time chatting with each other thinking back the old days. My aunt started to tell us about the cows her parents had or the outside the house bathroom(old Japanese style).  Haha, I sure feel myself got older.
Well, I wonder people in the western countries have the occasions to remember late family members and how.

     
 We enjoyed the lunch course