Ancestors. Or We See Dead People.

Our Family Altar.

Ok, not really. Or at least not often. For us the end of October/beginning of November is an important time to reconnect with some of our ancestors. As our new year begins we tell more stories than usual, look at old and not so old pictures. Generally try and include our memories of the past into our present in as many ways as possible. It's not a sad time at all. Wistful sometimes, but not sad. It's important for us to recognize that without death there cannot be life and that without our ancestors we are shells of the people that we could be. We carry with us the sum of their life experiences as certainly as we carry copies of their genetic codes.

This year I have encountered the possibility that those very codes, the directions for making a "me" ( thank you Uncle Seumas for that analogy) might be flawed. Given the occurrence and recurrence of specific diseases in my family I have been advised to have some genetic testing done. The blood draw is the easy part. Contemplating the fall out from the potential results is trickier. Still, though it is hard to see why, these flawed codes are an important part of me. Just as the combined happiness, sorrow, joy, frustration, worry, jubilation, fear, courage and moxie of my ancestors is a part of me. You cannot pick and choose which parts you take. You cannot pick and choose when death shows up. It is part of living, and we need it.Soul Cakes, Pomegranates and two of our many Sugar Skulls from this year.

To close our week long tribute to our beloved dead we made and ate Soul Cakes with dinner. They were delicious. Sweet and slightly spiced. If you have never made them, I encourage you to give it a try. I used this recipe for Soul Cakes . Changing out the currants for one raisin and spokes of slivered almonds.