Shrines for All Souls

I rode out to the cemetery today to spend some time with the shrines. These are white prayer flags made of vellum that the public have written messages on.




This is one of the shrines where people can place their personalized candles and flowers.

This is a shrine inspired by the Goddess Tara and the phoenix created by Hiroko Okano.







Hiroko's shrine is near the river bed made of stones that represent the babies that are buried here in the graveyard.



This is an altar made by two women honoring two of their young classmates that died several years ago.

Bollyween

If you go down to the Punjabi market this week, you'll see the hybrid between Diwali and Halloween. Most of the Sari shops are closed Tuesdays, but I couldn't help getting into the spirit and heading to All India Sweets for the veggie buffet and chai. Any excuse for me to have chai and gulab jamin is a good one. I love the name "Mystical Distribution Company Ltd." on the fireworks sign. I noticed that one kind of fireworks was called "Tough Mothers," illustrated by the cartoon of a frowning military guy and another was called "Fallen Heroe's" [sic] with a big Canadian flag on the package.

^Because it's good to have fresh breath when you're talking on the phone!

I love the Punjabi market and I went into one store that was all decorated with glittering streamers and bought some rhinestone bindis to add a Bollywood touch to my Halloween costume. After all, bees have more than one "third eye." In fact, they have three eyes in the middle of their forehead.

^Burfi and gulab jamin. Yum!

^This is a tradition costume with a gothic twist and a little melted head in front of yet another store selling fireworks. I love the ad hoc gesture of tying the sleeves to the axe. It makes it even more creepy. It made me a little queazy, to tell the truth. Gives a new edge to the cultural "melting pot".

Unexpected Beauty

Dusk is my favorite time of day at the cemetery.

The new buildings and fountains have a real modernist feel to them, so the challenge is to meet with that aesthetic in the celebration. I didn't get to take many photos, but there is a delicate beauty in this part of the ceremony.

LBJ

" Where there are flowers, there is hope."
--Lady Bird Johnson

LBJ, you were an amazing woman. In these days where narcissism is practically its own religion, I admire your dedication to others. I admire the way you took your wedding vows and memorized them and meditated on them, on the meaning of committing your life to a relationship with another human being. And boy, was he human. You were the quintessential steel magnolia. You were a wild flower and you were the wind in the Texas pines.

LBJ, I just want to thank you for your inspiration. Thank you for putting environmentalism on the center stage. Thank you for helping people overcome poverty and for your brave work in the civil rights movement. Thank you for the millions of flowers planted because of your efforts.

Lady Bird Johson 1912-2007.
This lady bird has flown home.

Honoring the Dead

Preparing for the ritual is part of the ritual. Saturday I had the privilege of being part of the team which creates A Night for All Souls directed by Paula Jardine. The Flower Factory provides the flowers, some of which are purchased, and some donated. We get to put the flowers onto heavy thread with a loop at each end for hanging on the altars. It seems so decadent to be able to work with all these flowers, many of which are tropical.

The mood was one of reverent joy, mixed with anticipation. There's a lot of responsibility in preparing for ritual. A woman shared her story of losing her dog, a longtime companion. A friend who'd recently been to Hawaii said that the women in Chinatown are the ones who sew the fresh flower leis that are given to tourists. We were treated to a warm, hearty lunch and the gift of a dry temperate day with periods of sunshine and some blue sky. I thought about John O'Donahue and how he said one of the things he missed most about leaving the priesthood was the privilege of helping someone die. He says it was his responsibility to create a powerful raft of words to carry the person on their journey.

I'd like flowers on my raft please! And a bunch of warm, witty women too.

Those Who Wander are Never Lost

Our friends have taken the plunge and sold their house. Now they are going to take their family on the road, traveling for a year before they move out east. I must say, I felt a bittersweet pang of sadness when I saw the "sold" sticker on their sign this week. We have spent time celebrating and sharing birthday parties, potluck dinners, block parties, and just the daily events of our lives. Selfishly, we hope they still consider our neighborhood their true home.


Tuesday and Wednesday were dry and warm so I had time to start clearing out the garden and harvesting the hops. The hops have a resinous garlic scent, which surprised me. They don't smell like beer at all!


I thought I saw a recipe for hops jelly once, but now I can't find it. If anyone sees one, please let me know. Otherwise, these babies will go to a friend who makes homemade beer.

Halloween Preview

We attended the first Halloween party of the year last weekend. It was a good incentive to get making our costumes. Only a week to go until the 31st. What will you be?

UBC Farm in October