Really Great Grandmother
Really Great Grandmother
Ancestor veneration, the way forward.
Being raised in the Occidental tradition, including sporadically attending a variety of churches, did not prepare one for the experience in Japan when fully understanding exactly why the Japanese venerate their ancestors.
Some time ago now, one’s cherished mother began putting together the family tree while digging deep into her European roots.
The interesting stories mother told about her grandmother both intrigued and tickled the funny bone.
Now there is a clear understand of where one’s grandfather got his incredible sense of humour and his sharp tart wit.
Helen Olga Kean Inglis-Richardson is one’s paternal Great Grandmother, and she bore 10 children.
The first four, including Grandfather from the paternal Great Grandfather (Inglis), and six from her second husband (Richardson).
Having rejected her first husband after coming back from World War I, as apparently he was a gambler and philanderer.
She told him outright, “I raised these four children by myself for the last four years, and can do so into the future, so just keep moving on.”
Along with the tale of a Victorian-era food fight, including breakfast condiments such as peanut butter, I can only surmise what a fun and fascinating lady she was after hearing her incredible stories.
She also joked to my juvenile mother that, “Whenever Mr. Richardson hung his pants on the bed post I became pregnant.”
An interesting statement from a woman born in the late 19th century, and as one can see by her picture was a product of the Victorian era (Born 1896-Meiji 29).
Researching the family lineage extensively, our matriarch gathered many intriguing stories including the migration from Europe across to the East Coast of the United States, and up to the west coast of British Columbia.
Quite the trip to say the least in the early part of the 20th century, nothing short of perseverance and endurance in what could only be surmised as an arduous life.
Which brings all back the ancestor veneration.
Thank you so very much to Really Great Grandmother Richardson.
Here is to let you know now, in one’s eyes you are a magnificent deity and now regarded as the Goddess of Playful Mischief.
Now venerated on the family’s kami dana, you must be somewhat surprised your incredible journey has continued up until this very day, and is now firmly planted in the extraordinary nation of Japan.
The Way of Gods from which the Japanese evolved is the belief all dead becoming deities with one foot inside this mortal coil, and the other in the heavens.
And in this, one can feel her spirit as passed down by grandfather where many happy childhood memories reside.
Indeed, the Japanese believe the ancestors watch over their clan, and retain influence over the behaviour and actions of their decedents throughout time.
Really, one must avoid shaming the family at all costs as one’s ancestors are keeping watch over the past, present, and future.
