rising dove
T and his wife Takako just returned from their home town, where they went to celebrate at their temple the death of T's father. "My father has been dead for 33 years." Their priest in Akita, who incidentally is both a Buddhist priest and a medical doctor, talked to T about "you."
In English, in western societies, the word "you" represents you here and now. In Japanese society "you" represents not only you here and now but also your ancestors. So, he told T and Takako, you need to appreciate your ancestors.
Today, M's Aunt Betty is passing from the here and now. Her doctor in Chicago took her off a ventilator and other support this afternoon. Betty has outlived nearly everyone in her family stories. Ancestral she will become. With brothers all around her once again, in the same tense with them again.
