Day 16 of 30-Day Writing Challenge
Yesterday’s memorial service was beautiful. Four of us Ikebana friends made flower arrangements. Potteries she had made decorated the table next to the arrangements. Her wedding photos taken 60years ago stood by them. I miss her very much.
But I miss another person who should have been there arranging flowers, or at least giving me a critique on my arrangement. It’s been over eight years since she passed.
When I started taking Ikebana lessons, she was already there. She was not a teacher but was in charge of administrative work of the study group.
When I obtained my teacher’s certificate, she told me to attend an “old and new board.” What board? She was good at making me hesitant to ask any question. I also knew she wouldn’t take “no” as an answer.
When I went to the meeting place, I found out it was the board meeting of Ikebana International (I.I.) Seattle Chapter. She had already written a recommendation letter for me to join the chapter. In the group she was in charge of several committees. Many of I.I. members had been also recruited by her, so I learned.
I joined another non-profit. There I was a volunteer to visit local schools to help students learn about Japanese culture. I found out she had been the longest and the most active volunteer there. Whenever the organization had a problem finding a volunteer in the last minutes, they could count on her.
Reliable, organized, not complaining, not gossiping, getting things done. When she was alive, we didn’t think too much because she took care of the group so well. Only after she was gone did we realized how much she meant to us.
For the first time I went to her house, for her memorial service. It was pretty far from downtown Seattle. At her funeral I learned how old she was. Ninety years old! I thought she was not even 80. Until very end she commuted this long distance and continued her work as a volunteer.
Thanks to her I still enjoy being a member of I.I. In the next two years I serve as the president.
I miss you, Lily-san. There are so many things I wish to ask you for your advice. You are my unsung hero.