We left our hotel room around 10 a.m. and headed to my late parents’ house. When I saw the ocean view, I finally felt I was back home. The train stopped at Suma station for about 20 minutes due to the accident happened somewhere in Amagasaki area. I was not in a hurry so that I could enjoy watching the Suma beach, eating some rice snack with my daughter.
We arrived at my parents’ house after 11 a.m. Once we entered, I actually felt my parents’ existence in the house, welcoming us to their house.
The first thing we did was to enter the alter room and sat down the butsudan. I saw my parents’ pictures next to the butsudan. I offered Japanese mantra and Hannya Shingyo and started talking to them. I talked to them out loud. I was 100% sure that they were with me and listening to me and talking to me. I could communicate with them normally as if they were still alive in the physical form.
My main purpose was to take my bank items including bank note book, ATM card, and bank stamps. I went to my mom’s small area where she kept her sawing machines and cashes. I found her wallets, but everything was empty as all the cash was already taken. My bank items were not there. Then we went to my dad’s office on upstairs. I could not find my bank items anywhere. I talked to my mom and dad in spirit to guide me. When I almost gave up, my daughter all of a sudden asked me if she could open the first drawer of my dad’s desk. I told her to go ahead to open. There, she found my bank ATM cash card right away. It was amazing that she could find it, even though it was her very first time to enter my dad’s office. Then, I naturally guided to one paper folder, where I could find my bank notebook. The last item I needed was my bank stamp. We entered the other room, and I naturally guided to my dad’s shelf. I was delighted to find my own box and found my bank stamp there. With the support from my late parents and my daughter, I could find all the bank items that I needed.
There was one more surprise for me. My brother put one bank note on the kitchen table. My name was written on the bank note. When I opened it, I saw the familiar handwriting of my mom’s. My mom kept some money for me and it was her last surprise gift to me. I was very sure that she was happy for me that I could receive it.
I was told via my attorney that my brother was fine that I would take anything I wanted from our parents’ house. Even my attorney suggested it would be the only last opportunity to enter their house and take everything what I needed. My daughter and I searched around the items that my parents left behind. My mom’s kimonos were untouched. My mom’s jewelries were untouched. I know my mom wanted me to take some, but on my second thought, I made my mind not to take anything. I just thought it was not right thing for me to take anything from their house.
We left their house without anything that was belong to my parents. I just took my own bank items only.
We stayed my parents’ house for about 2 hours. Deep inside, I was hoping my brother would stop by and say hi to us. I was actually planning to bring a gift to my brother. I purchased a pure sake that was made with chemical free rice. I wanted to leave the gift with a small note, thanking him to let me enter to our parents’ house. When I mentioned about my plan to my attorney, he had a sad look on his face. He believes my brother would not stop by because he doesn’t want to see me. Also, he would not appreciate my gift. So, I didn’t bring the gift to my brother. I am feeling sad that my brother was stubbornly cringing on to my parents’ money.
After we left my parents’ house, we went to the BBQ restaurant that my parents would take us many times in our childhood days. I am sure my parents joined us and enjoyed the food with us in spirit.
Then we went to the Maiko beach and walked on the beach area. I needed to earth myself, so I soak my bare foot in the sea. Thanks to Maiko beach and ocean, I could release my sadness of this current situation with my brother.
In the evening, we went to Meriken park and watched the firework show for 15 minutes.
On the way back to the hotel room, we found one massage salon. Since there was only one opening, I let my daughter to have a 30-minute massage.
When we came back to the hotel, I talked with one of the front desk clerks about our departure day. When I mentioned our flight departure is 6:30 p.m., she was kind enough to extend our check out time until 1 p.m. which was 2 hours longer than their normal checkout time. I appreciate her kindness and thoughtfulness.
three wisdom 