Diary of a Chapter Leader

The Memorial

Sunday was the memorial for our friend. It was a nice event. Well over a hundred people attended from SGI, the Postal Service, friends and family. We did gongyo and chanted for a long time as people filed up to offer incense. Our friend's daughters shared a gongyo book and chanted. She would have been so happy. The ceremony was scheduled for the exact time as our district's Women's Division General Meeting. Jean's wish for a big turn out was accomplished.

Several people talked about her. They seemed to all be from different parts of her life. A college friend, the woman who introduced her to NSA (now SGI), postal workers from Oakland, Salinas and Aptos, people who knew her for decades and her newest friend, a new member of our district. They met right at the end of last year, but were fast friends. The SGI leaders did a great job, too. It seemed to take a weight off my shoulders. I decided not to speak at the memorial and was glad when her new friend got up to represent all of us in Salinas District.

The weather was rough in the morning - windy, rainy, high surf pounding just outside the room. By the afternoon it had cleared to a cool, sunny day. My oldest daughter tried to explain our practice to the young woman sitting next to her. She was asked about what we were chanting, what's with the beads, what are they saying now - my daughter did her best and gave here a Nam-myoh-renge-kyo card. Her father was so proud!

After the ceremony, some food was brought out and we all mingled and talked. I uesed the time to do some chapter and district business. I organized some face time between some leaders and members and worked with our newest member to get a butsadan so she can receive her gohonzon next week. That would have made Jean happy, too.

A few months ago we had a year-end potluck on the chapter level. Last year it was at our house on the south side of town, this year it was on the north side. A few of us decided to carpool. Before we left we decided to have a "Time to leave" word. I came up with Palomino - right out of a Saturday Night Live skit. When we realized most of the members had left, we all started saying "Palomino! Palomino!" and laughing. At the ceremony yesterday, three of our district members had carpooled. It was getting late and I went over to the driver and said, "Palomino!". She knew exactly what that meant. Soon I had others saying it. It felt good to end the memorial laughing together.