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Burial Service
Dec. 21st, 2009 03:22 pmToday was Tsubaki Sensei's burial service. I didn't think I would be able to go, but since school dismissed at 1:10 and the burial was at 2:00, I thought I would give it a try. The associate principal had no problem approving me to leave early. I wasn't missing any school, just my own afternoon work time. No sub would be required, so I was free to go.
I have never been to a burial service before. I have attended other memorial services, but I always skipped the graveside part. I don't know why. The memorial service yesterday was nice. People from several areas of Sensei's life got up and shared stories about him. He had a very full life: KU Theater, Japanese theater, The Japan Sister City committee, the KC Japan Festival that is held every fall at JCCC, his family, and of course, Ki-Aikido.
Sensei was always interested in travel. He said that travel is one thing that keeps people in touch with their youth. I totally get that. That wonderful feeling of being confused and disoriented in an unfamiliar place is a lot like childhood.
At Pioneer Cemetary up by the Lied Center, they had a brief service and buried Sensei's urn. We each got to throw a handful of dirt in the grave. I was not expecting to get to do that. The experience was intimate and very final. Any tears that refused to come during this whole process flowed freely and I didn't care who saw me.
We had to view the body yesterday and I had that weird feeling I always have when I am in the presence of a dead body. He's not in there. Yesterday morning at the dojo, I was alone and so I practiced my sword forms. Sensei WAS in the dojo. I don't mean that I necessarily believe that his angelic presence was watching over me. He imbued that space with his Ki, his energy, his dedication. I believe that is the presence I feel when I am in the dojo. I hope it remains there.
I have never been to a burial service before. I have attended other memorial services, but I always skipped the graveside part. I don't know why. The memorial service yesterday was nice. People from several areas of Sensei's life got up and shared stories about him. He had a very full life: KU Theater, Japanese theater, The Japan Sister City committee, the KC Japan Festival that is held every fall at JCCC, his family, and of course, Ki-Aikido.
Sensei was always interested in travel. He said that travel is one thing that keeps people in touch with their youth. I totally get that. That wonderful feeling of being confused and disoriented in an unfamiliar place is a lot like childhood.
At Pioneer Cemetary up by the Lied Center, they had a brief service and buried Sensei's urn. We each got to throw a handful of dirt in the grave. I was not expecting to get to do that. The experience was intimate and very final. Any tears that refused to come during this whole process flowed freely and I didn't care who saw me.
We had to view the body yesterday and I had that weird feeling I always have when I am in the presence of a dead body. He's not in there. Yesterday morning at the dojo, I was alone and so I practiced my sword forms. Sensei WAS in the dojo. I don't mean that I necessarily believe that his angelic presence was watching over me. He imbued that space with his Ki, his energy, his dedication. I believe that is the presence I feel when I am in the dojo. I hope it remains there.
