Respect

Don't know where I saw this, but I've had the image of an old man taking his hat off as a sign of respect in my head. This always reminds me of going to my grandmas funeral. On the way there in the car procession I noticed a few elderly men doing this, or stopping and holding their hand to their heart. I remember thinking at the time how it seemed like I'd travelled a couple of years back to a time when people showed respect, curtesy, manners. It just seems such a contrast now. I was quite moved by it, just strangers passing by, which is why I've never forgotten it.

As we approached the cemetary, as part of tradition, we started throwing 'ghost money' out the windows. Not the fake looking printed money, but plain squares of paper with a square of gold leaf in the centre. Proper 'ghost money'. This was paying respect to the people who were already dead there, telling them to welcome another soul. We got a few disapproving looks from people, but of course they didn't know.