Ksanjai Temeyachat

Last night we drove to the funereal ceremony for Jit's aunt, Ksanjai Temeyachat. I was hesitant to take pictures, but other people were, and then I was invited, especially when the memory card got full. I had to run to get ready for putting the body into the coffin. I took many pictures. The light, in the evening, was terrible, high fluorescent bulbs, so I know I will need to do some work to make the presentable. The light was OK in the beginning. I tried to focus on the relatives and the son and daughters. I hope that the pictures are going to be OK, there are a lot of memories depending on my photography.

The ceremony was similar to the one for Sutep in Fairbanks, the chanting and the community participation. I do not understand all the symbolism in the ritual. Jit's uncle was hesitant to come, his feelings were too intense, Jit, Juke, Tuke, Nuck and Nick walked to his house to encourage him to come. I tagged along. The house was in a compound surrounded by higher buildings, there were three or four traditional Thai wood houses. Jit's uncle is a very dignified man and his grief was very deep and very restrained. You could feel the intensity of his loss. He agreed to come and we rode back in two Tuk-Tuks.

Many people gathered around him with compassion, touched him with reassurance, and let him speak. At the end of the ceremony he want up to the front with his two daughters and his son. It was very deep. As we left people were putting the chairs away and his chair was the only one remaining and occupied. People were with him. His wife had been in the hospital for a couple months, going home alone, after spending a life together, must be very difficult.

Jit's uncle had suffered a stroke about a year ago, but has recovered his abilities. He was a school principal. His home was decorated with tropical pictures. On the wall was a very handsome picture of him, it looks like he was a movie star. He is tall, with gray well groomed and combed hair. What I can not express, is the dignity and depth of his grief. He made a comment that he would go to Alaska because he needs friends now. The picture of his wife looks very different from the women that I saw in the hospital and in the coffin. She was a pharmacist. She was in her middle sixties.

There will be three more days of ceremony before the cremation. Jit's nephew will go through the ritual of becoming a monk. I believe that this helps a person make the transition to death. Hyde, Surinam son, did the same thing for Sutep in Fairbanks. We will go to the ceremony again tonight.

Juke and Nuke could not participate, they had to stay back because they both had injuries. I was also told to wash my face after taking the pictures. There is some echo of being careful of spirits of the dead. None of this extra dimension lessened or diminished the care of compassion or grief that was being expressed and soothed and the funereal.

I have about 15 rolls of film to develop from the last few days. Tomorrow in the morning we will go to a ceremony at the local temple.