１３日は「盆の入り」。私の地域では朝早く（早い人は５時ごろから６時すぎになるとお墓は大賑わいといった感じ）先祖のお墓にお参りする習慣があります。私はアメリカから帰ったばかりでお供えの花も用意していないなど勝手な理由でお参りは後日ということに決めました。自宅の仏壇に手を合わせた後、墓参のために普段は空き家の実家に帰ってこられたご近所のT家のお仏壇にもご挨拶ができました。
お昼前に義弟が跡を取ってくれている主人の実家に久しぶりに行ったら、玄関の引き戸の取手の上に小さな雨蛙がちょこんと乗って出迎えてくれました。あまりに可愛いので写真を撮ろうとモタモタしていたら、取手からスルスルと上の方に上がっていき、かろうじてシャッターを押すことができました。
家に上がって仏壇のご先祖にご挨拶をし、義弟夫婦とあれこれおしゃべりをして帰ってきました。神社の前は観光客で賑わっていましたが、今日はそれぞれのご先祖に感謝しながら過ごせたことで落ち着いた一日になりました。
Aug. 13th is the start of Obon which is the Japanese tradition to honor our ancestors. In my area, people visit graves early in the morning (some people visit very early at around 5 a.m. and it is very crowded past 6 a.m.). However, I decided to do it after the day because I had just returned to Japan and didn't have a chance to prepare the offering flowers. I prayed for my ancestors at the Buddhist altar in my home instead. I also visited my friend's house which was usually vacant but on a special occasion such as Obon she came back to her parent's home. I prayed for them at their Buddhist altar in her home.
Before noon, I visited my husband's younger brother after a long time. He is taking care of his parent's house now. When I came to the entrance of his house, I saw a tiny tree frog sitting on the sliding door handle. I tried to take a picture of it, since it was so cute. While I was searching for my camera, it moved up to the door, but I was lucky to catch it.
After putting my hands together in front of the Buddhist altar in his house and enjoying talking to my husband's younger brother and his wife, I came home. When I passed by the Taga Taisha, I saw many tourists there. It was a quiet and pleasant day for me to thank both sets of parents and ancestors and my friend's one, too.
