gotohealth's Blog

 This year, 2024, will be the seventh year since Sam passed. Eighteen of us gathered at the Hillcrest Cemetery for a "nanakaiki" (seventh year Japanese memorial ceremony), installment of the stone marker and interment of Sam's ashes. Sister Irene, provided us with some chanting and a short ceremony. It was meaningful.

 

As we were arranging the urn with the ashes, picture, and flowers for the ceremonial table, Brent noticed a dragonfly had landed on his chest area. We felt it was somewhat meaningful at the time. Heidi immediately  proclaimed, "For sure, Sam is here with us and visiting us from the other side!!!"  It flew away as we completed burning incense and laying flowers with the urn.

 

As we gathered for lunch at the Tokyo Restaurant in Factoria, we fulfilled the reason for having memorials with food and conversation.  Looking up the significance of dragonflies, several cultures consider them spiritually significant as symbols of change and new beginnings. 

 

Lynette, our older daughter, flew in from Burbank, Andy and Beryl drove over from Quincy. I flew  back from from a visit to Walla Walla that got me home at 6am this morning.

 

The purpose of the trip to Walla Walla was to find stories for OMOIDE VII. I am administrating an OSPI - Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction - Kip Tokuda Memorial Grant.  What I am finding as I have these sessions of conversation around the state is similar to why memorials are important. Sharing our "Heritage Values" is what each of us can do with having one-on-one conversations. I know this is one way I can fulfill my purpose in life and maybe influence a few others to do the same.  

 

I'm smiling as I feel the Love and Fulfillment of Sam and my commitment to passing on some of  our heritage values to our future generations. Maybe Sam sent the dragonfly or visited. What do you think?

Sam, you raised us up "to stand on mountains", "I am strong, when I am on" the shoulders of our family and your besties, who were there to support me!

 

I was escorted to the event and to the stage on the arms of my adopted sons, Tom and David. What a night! Do I ever have a lot of “thankful energy" that needs to be shared. 

 

To my OMOIDE friends: "You raise me up to more than I can be"!

What I realize is that it is now part of my resume and gives me credibility which I can use as I continue to SPREAD RIPPLES OF COMPASSION AND GENEROSITY, ONE CONVERSATION AT A TIME. I’m pretty good with asking question with the story sessions that I’m doing for the OMOIDE VII project. Hope I’m learning to be a good listener. Love this connecting with people and sharing.