Something reminded me if this event today, so I thought I would post about it here. It isn't quite significant enough to warrant its own thread, so here we go.
In Japan, so many years after someone has died, you have a series of follow up funeral sort of things. Everyone gathers, the family pulls out the ashes, you call in a priest and basically redo the funeral. (At least this is the case with well-to-do families, I think it is a much smaller affair for the average household.)
My husband's grandfather passed away a year or two before we met. A few years after we married, his 7th year funeral thing was held. Everyone gathered at the family home where his altar and ashes are held, and did the whole bit. After doing the funeral ceremony, everyone cleaned up and were getting ready for dinner. The 7 year affair was a family thing, but dinner afterward was a neighborhood thing with people who had known him stopping by to pay respects.
I, the awkward new wife, had no idea what to do so was just walking around trying to keep out of everyone's way. Someone had stopped by and was visiting in the living room, so I sort of stopped and stood in the doorway between the living and dining rooms. I was standing there for a bit when someone tapped me on the shoulder to get me to move out of the way. (There were two main ways people come into the house, through the front entrance leading into the hallway in front of the living room, and through the service kitchen which is connected by a small door to the family kitchen and dining room. I was blocking one of the main routes.) I quickly moved to let them through and apologize... And no one was there.
I had very clearly felt the firm tap (pat?) on the shoulder. There was absolutely no reason for me to think that it was anything other than someone wanting through. I was completely ready to apologize for standing there so long and blocking the way... But there was no one to apologize to.
Actually, I did start apologizing as I turned and moved out of the way, but it sort of died halfway through. Sister-in-law asked me what was wrong.
I have to say I felt a serious chill.
But at least it didn't feel hostile. Just a friendly pat on the shoulder to get me to move out of the doorway.
:lol: 
