My grandmother has been dead for about a year and she was born and raised in Japan. During the time before the Obon, legend says that your ancestors are around you and they return at the end of the dancing festivities. I never believed in all of that but during last years Obon, my grandmother was being honored and I was attending.
I was helping take care of my aunt who didn't speak any english and was bedridden. My 3 year old son came in the room one day and he said to me, "Mommy, there is a lady in the bedroom..." He was talking about my grandmother's old room. I was caught off guard and I began to ask him questions to describe her, I asked if she was nice or mean. He said she was nice, then I asked if she looked like me or like my elderly aunt. And he said she looked like my aunt, and promptly left the room. I got up and walked toward the other bedroom and I heard my son talking to an older woman.
The room was dark but I saw him sitting on the bed swinging his legs as he talked. I heard both voices, and it was my grandmother's voice. I couldn't hear what they were talking about because my aunt called me, but when I got back in the room with her, she stopped me from scooping up more food. She held my hand, told me that my grandmother would take great care of him and not to worry. She always had a connection with my grandmother and there were times that I heard her talking to what seemed like herself. It lasted for about 30 minutes and I would hear my son and the woman laughing and playing, I didn't know how I could explain it but I knew that it made my son feel safe so I accepted it.
My son seemed to be the only one that could see her, but during the trip a blanket appeared when I woke up in the morning that I hadn't put there. Also she protected him when my father and I had a big fight and he didn't hear all of the yelling and slept like an angel through it. I like to think that she was there to protect my Aunt but she was able to get to play with my son as a bonus. Ever since then I have wanted to know all that I can about her, and it warms my heart to know that she was there.
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