In the Philippines, they celebrate November 1st as All Souls Day. This is similar to the Hispanic Tradition of Día De Los Muertos. I remember seeing videos and photos of my cousins in the Philippines having a picnic in the cemetery. It was like a party, or celebration. It’s not like a somber thing. I’ve had to have a change in my relationship with and how I view death. It’s not like this scary thing that I have to try and fight off. I can sit with it and just let it be. It’s a constant part of life and is always happening to everyone. So instead of wasting energy trying to keep it away I can just let it sit shotgun and be there.
As Autumn approaches I find myself wanting to honor those who have come before me, and try and recognize the things I do that are little ways of carrying on our loved ones memories.
Sometimes its the little things like making “Papa’s Special Cereal”… which is really originally Cream of Wheat “Ima’s Way” (with Nestle Quik and Ritz crackers)
Or keeping little things around to remind us
and sometimes it’s getting a dog that is a reincarnation of your previous two dogs rolled up into one
Photography by Rex 