おばあちゃんと一緒に朝算法
This morning I went on a walk with Sayuri's
grandmother (Sarah's Great-Grandmother), Obaachan. Obaachan is 91 years old and she
takes an hour long walk every morning from about 5:30 till 6:30. Once a month, she
visits the family grave at the local temple (a Buddhist temple, or Otera). It is
about a half-mile to the temple from the house and in the early morning, it is a cool,
enjoyable walk on the main road that is normally full of cars. We went there this
morning to clean-up, pull weeds, and offer some flowers and incense in memory to family
members who have passed away in recent years. Grandfather, who died about 10 years
ago, is the most recent.
"Grandfather (Ojiisan)," we brought you some flowers and Joe even came
along to help clean up," she said in a soft voice as we began to work. She then
paused and said that "Grandfather is pleased."
After about fifteen minutes, Obaachan fetched some water from the temple for the
flowers and to pour over the grave stones. Then we lit incense to sticks in the
small sand-pit at the front of each of the three family stones. Obaachan showed me
her name which is inscribed in red on the head-stone on the far right. She said that
Ojiisan had this rock inscribed with her name, and when she dies, the temple will take the
red out of the name inscription. Grandfather's eldest son had died before having any
sons, so he wanted to make sure that granmother's name was put on the family tomb before
he died.
"Ojiisan!, I'll be back!" she called as we left the graveyard to
continue our walk taking the river road home.