She misses him so much. Friends and relatives tried to console her but to no avail. :( Last Saturday, she asked me to accompany her to Chinatown to pick up a laptop and cellphone for him.
We went to a shop that sells incense and paper items for the dead.
black laptop (extreme left) for the dead
Besides the 'laptop', she also bought 'dentures', his favourite food and lots of menswear. All were made of paper. I didn't laugh nor chide her, I felt very sad and sorry for her.
paper dentures
I discovered some lacy paper bra but I couldn't find any matching G-string. Female ghosts also need to wear sexy underwear? -_- "'
Guys, beware! :P
Don't leave Hell Without a Hell Passport and Credit Cards
Note : My photos are missing due to Blogger's 'internal error'. I hope the problem can be solved asap. Meanwhile I have to upload my photos in another site. :(
Wordless WednesdayFirst Commenter - Sasha
Poor woman! I hope she gets to move on soon.
ReplyDeleteim late!!!
ReplyDeletehalu ECL! missin u! im back now!whew!
ReplyDeleteSigh
ReplyDeleteI could never understand this part of chinese culture
Well bon voyage, may the dead arrive safely in heaven ^_^
ReplyDeletequite odd indeed but if that comforts her. then, it must be good.
ReplyDeleteMake sure give them (the dearly departed) at least platinum credit cards for them to spend in hell. :D
ReplyDeleteThree months is still new to heal her wounds of missing her husband. Hope she has support around her during this time so that she won't feel so lonely.
ReplyDeleteDid you buy the lacy bra to burn for someone? :D
ReplyDeleteHi ECL, I'm sorry but I cannot see the picture. Maybe its me. But anyway, about your friend, its hard to loose someone you love.
ReplyDeleteThis buying stuff for the dead is big business and I see they're really keeping up with the times. Haha...what cannot be sold huh? Handphones, fancy gowns, computers..you name it and they have it.
ReplyDeleteand why not ! I think it's a very nice tribute.
ReplyDeleteMy friend's husband honored her by leaving her grave just like a mole hill and after 2 weeks replaced her with another woman who moved in with him. That's disgusting !
Really? wow! hope she can move on and she's lucky to have you as a friend who understands her.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the photos either. I wonder why.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder whether it is the dead who cares about these material wealth or is it the living who projected these demands on the dead because they fear what their life-after-death would be like.
Or is it that the living wants to have something physical and concrete so that they can better remember their loved ones who are dead?
Eastcoastlife, I wonder if your friend reads English? There is a touching story found in this book: An Hour to Live, An Hour to Love. I have read it recently, and it is compiled by a lady who had lost her husband unexpectedly. Coincidentally, her husband was a well-known author, and he wrote a touching note to her years before his death, based on the questions:
ReplyDeleteIf you had one hour to live and could make just one phone call, who would it be to? What would you say? And why are you waiting?
There are many such shops in Singapore that sell incense and all types of paper items to the Nether world. One item that is conspicuously absent is lacy bra as rightly pointed out by Ecl. Now that she has brought it up, the incense shops' owners may start making lacy bra for sale,ha.ha.....
ReplyDeletei have never heard of such a thing. hmmm...interesting.
ReplyDeleteI find different customs interesting. Not to be made fun of. There no time table on grieving.
ReplyDeletePlease watch your friend so someone doesn’t take advantage of her.
To some our customs may seem strange.
Coffee is on.
Hi dear, pity ur friend. I think she feels a little closer to her hubby by buying all those things, so long as it takes the pain of missing him away. Hugs for ur friend! :(
ReplyDeleteLOL @ the lacy panties, it looks like almost everything is available! :)
ReplyDeleteOnly three months.The wound's still painful for the poor lady.If buying these paper offerings lifts her spirits(no pun intended)then why not?You'e a real friend ECL by not standing in her way.
ReplyDeleteBtw there are no images but the lacy panties sound hilarious.How things have changed from the paper car and usual bank notes.
losing someone you love is never easy. realising that you'll never see them again is even harder.
ReplyDeletei hope she will stay strong and i pray the best for her.
for some reason, i can't see the pics too and even your banner is missing.
ReplyDeleteaw, i feel so sorry for your friend. yes, blogger is having problem. on my side, it was the scheduling post unable to post accordingly.
ReplyDeleteinteresting.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see so many 'worldly' possession one could burn for the dearly departed.
ReplyDeleteI have left you a blog award here: http://nanjodogz.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-award.html
ReplyDeletePick up when you get a chance. Have a Happy Fourth of July!
lacey bra? hmmm...do they carry the iphone 3.0? :P
ReplyDeletere the missing blogspot pics. It happened to mine 2x. They'll return after awhile.
I love those kinds of stores! (I admit it.) Great photos!
ReplyDeletegranddaughter and kitten
Hi ECL,
ReplyDeleteDropping by to see what's new :) hope things are well and that you have a great week ahead :) xoxo
Poor lady. I hope she finds peace soon.
ReplyDeleteShe is so unlike my mother-in-law, who asked her cancer-stricken husband why he was "doing this" when he ordered more medicine for himself. "I'm not ready to go just yet," came the answer.
good thing she has you for a friend!
ReplyDeletehi ECL, you've just been tagged in my special Friendship Chain Tag! Hv fun! :)
ReplyDeleteokay - now this is pretty funny
ReplyDeleteI feel very saddened for her - bust also very intrigued by this store. I would think it might help one move through their grief better?
ReplyDeleteHi ECL! I feel sorry for your friend too :(
ReplyDeleteWe chinese like to burn these things for those dearly departed. But I feel it's like burning money. I'm sorry I just don't believe in such things!
ReplyDeleteBut I do feel sorry for your friend. Guess it's better to just let her burn those stuffs for her late husband.
ReplyDeleteWow! All sorts of things nowadays. Sexy underwear, laptop, and even hell passport! It's getting ridiculous! : )
ReplyDeletelacy paper bra? lol..
ReplyDeleteYou're a good friend she is lucky to have someone like you to get her through. I don't want to walk in her shoes for many years!
ReplyDeleteWow, i didn't know there are such things as these. I feel bad for your friend. Her loss is really hard to take. It's nice of you to accompany her.
ReplyDeleteI've been to China town a number of times but some how missed this part. Yuur blogs are always so informative and fun,even if it's a sad occcasion you give it lots of sparkly life!
ReplyDeleteI hope she'll recover from her loss soon. I know of some Chinese friends who send money and stuff to dead relatives for their trip.
ReplyDeleteMoms... Check Nyo
Yummy-as-can-be
I feel sad for this woman and she will be feeling better soon. I will say this is the most intriguing post and I had no idea that such paper things existed!!! WOW!
ReplyDeletehi ECL, you've just been tagged! Enjoy! :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder when will they have a super mall for the dead. My wife was asking if there are any house and lots available too.. Haha. Nice!
ReplyDeleteHow fun:) Happy WW and thanks for stoppong by.
ReplyDeleteECL The Credit Card photo is missing.
ReplyDeletenow to comment - I'm yoruba and we give all types of things to our ancestors, all the time.
right now I have some fresh bananas and some fresh peaches. the fruit is for the ancestors and the orishas we want to reach for help. also I have many cans of food that were my moms favorite which is hard to find.
sitting stacked against the wall beside my altar.
I have rum that is now more than 30 years old - and rare. can you imagine how delicious it must be. Passionfruit rum from st. martin. handmade cuban rhum; handmade rum from martinique and the dr.
30+ year old jamaican rum, and nigerian beer. yeah some liked beer so they get beer.
I am leaving a note to whomever handles my arrangements to take the foods from my altar and give them to the ocean when I pass on and to open the various rums and cigars and enjoy them. some of the cigars are handrolled in cuba; and other places from up to 30 years ago. this is my original altar so the items are all from the beginning. I only maintain, add and build on it. sometimes during the month, sometimes not.
I always give them real money tho, usually at least $40. in crisp $20. everytime I use the bank machine. even if I only get money for bills for the week. I thank them with an offering.
that money has helped me get my car fixed; pay for food; pay for prescriptions and many many bunches of flowers on depressed days.
We are taught to feed our altars daily and to keep close to our ancestors. I burn candles always - there is rarely a time when a candle is not burning on my altar. only in time of death, or emergency; and then one is lit as soon as appropriate.
when the King of the Yorubas in North America died about 2 years ago; it was a month long ceremony, where folks came from all over the world to pay respects, in the thousands. all of his children and lineage darkened their altars for 21 days after his death as homage to his great light.
at the end when a new king was appointed; and he was finally laid to rest in his tomb, we then cleaned our altars and re lit the candles.
I am also partially hebrew and we sit shiiva when someone dies. as recently My aunt passed on - and it was short shiiva - only 7 days. but we went out and did most things. just observing the death rituals.
yes we are a varied bunch sharing a big planet; but death unites us. as in the death of Michael Jackson.
this is a great post, really from the heart.
that reminds me of LV that I bought for my grandparents...
ReplyDeletePeople making those paper stuff are really more and more creative.
ReplyDeleteSo those who passed away will also blog?
I don't know whether to cry or laugh. It is really sad, but kinda funny.
ReplyDeleteHi ECL,
ReplyDeleteYou have been tagged so your it :) hehehe Enjoy the friendship chain - Keep safe and healthy always :) xoxo
Here is the link just in case you need to look for it :)
http://emptystreets27.blogspot.com/2009/07/empty-streets-special-friendship-chain_02.html
I feel sad for your friend, I hope she'll be able to move on soon.
ReplyDeleteAll said and done, I'm sure your friend feels better now that she has done all these for her husband. Parting is never easy. And we find comfort in the things we find meaningful to us. God bless her.
ReplyDeleteYour friend is sweet.
ReplyDeleteHmm... wonder if they have wireless in the other world.
My mother had a friend who kept her husbands ashes in a bottle of scotch....but I think this new one takes the cake!
ReplyDeletePoor woman, but typical you; you are always so supportive!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend ECL!