It is another hot, hot day. Not a good day for creative thoughts or writing. I’ve fallen behind in my painting for the Daisy Yellow Index Card a Day challenge. Cooler weather is coming tomorrow. Perhaps I can do some catching up then. Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying an afternoon siesta. It’s a wise thing to do when it is 34°C outside.
But now it is time to wake up and write a post for day 11 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

My cousin from Boston had made a recent trip back to China. He sent a couple of photos of our house. My paternal grandfather had saved the money to have it built shortly before my father was born. So it is over 93 years old. It was a beautiful 2 story, 2 family home for my grandfather’s family and for his youngest brother’s family.

The main floor held 2 kitchens and living areas. The bedrooms on the 2nd floor. It has a flat roof with a cupola, for lack of a better word. I remember playing up there on the roof. It was where I had my first encounter with ‘ghosts’. I think I felt them rather than ‘saw’ them. My mother told me they were our ancestor and nothing to be afraid of.

When we left China, our family had intentions of returning. We have not made a return trip. Not even once. But the house has always been occupied by our cousins. Sadly, it hasn’t been maintained and looking quite neglected. And during Mao’s time, the government had taken all the steel that was part of the house – all the metal window shutters, the big main door and gate. Happily, the Boston cousin has the means to renovate it. He is going to have it restored to as when my grandfather had it built.

The cousin is the youngest son of my grandfather’s brother. He knows our families’ history. He knows that my grandfather had supported his family. He is grateful and wants good fend shui. No leaky roof over our ancestors’ heads.