This weekend we went to a shrine in Hiratsuka to finish off Layla’s Shichi-go-san celebrations, at least for this year. She’ll do it all over again when she’s 7.
Luckily, this time there were no hospital visits, no appointments to miss or schedules to fall behind on, so this day went much smoother than the previous photographer outing. We got to the shrine in the early afternoon, signed up for our blessing, paid our blessing fee, and waited for our turn.
While we waited, we were shown to a waiting room where there were markers to write on the wishing wood they gave us. Tamie wrote something deep and meaningful in Japanese and Layla signed her name in every colour of the rainbow. Then Tamie realized she wrote on the wrong block of wood and they did it all over again on the correct one.
After some time, a shrine lady collected us and led us to the main prayer room. We sat quietly, bowing our heads when told to, as a couple of monks prayed, sang and blessed the whole occasion. I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to take any pictures, so left my camera in my bag, but the constant flashes from the tourist crowd behind us made me wonder if it’d been okay. At the very least, the tourists could have asked us if we wanted a copy of the pictures they took.
All the while the prayers and things were going on, Layla was sitting on my lap. She bowed when instructed, and listened when told. Not a tear was shed or peep peeped as she went through the whole process of celebrating her turning three. Even when she needed to go up to the front with me and place the ceremonial tree branch on the ceremonial table and ring the ceremonial bell after doing the ceremonial bow, bow, clap, clap, bow post-prayer procedures. The only time she balked at something during the day was when they offered her a bit of sake at the end. Smart kid.
Once everything was said and done, we took the opportunity to shoot a few pictures in front of the shrine before heading back home. On the way back, Layla wanted to change into her running shoes that I happened to have in my backpack. By the time she got to the car, she wanted out of the dress and into some jeans, again in the backpack.
Back at the Grandparents’ house, Layla wanted to go to her favourite park on her favourite red bicycle. Jiji was more than happy to go and I ended up tagging along, taking pictures along the way. Layla had a blast, but I wouldn’t doubt if her Jiji had more. Biking, sliding, running, playing, swinging! No wonder she likes going to the park with him!
When Layla was done with the park, we headed back home to go for dinner with everyone. There’s a great teppanyaki place that opened up in Hon-Atsugi that Tamie was interested in trying. I convinced her parents to come with us, which amounted to nothing more than asking them. I think it was unanimous that the food was great.
For the full picture gallery, click here.
