According to feng shui practices, when three coins are tied together with a red ribbon, it is symbolic of good fortune and prosperity. In Meleen's card, nine coins are tied while one coin remains loose (representing a return to the Ace). When my father-in-law retired as an auditor for Sears-Roebuck, he moved here in 1966 and opened a fried chicken restaurant. When he became ill, it was passed to my husband; my husband changed the decor to reflect a "hippie" style" complete with album covers on the ceilings and musicians painted on the walls. We added to the menu (smoked chicken and fried green tomatoes) before passing it on to our nephews five years ago. They in turn have changed the store's appearance and adjusted the food choices. I see those three generations in those three sets of coins, with each group making changes to adapt to new generations and customer demands. The loose coin represents what we decide to do with the legacy we receive - how we use and care for it.
The Eurasian jay is related to the crow, and it is known for its intelligence and mimicry. The jay is one of several types of birds that take part in a behavior known as "anting." Ants are rubbed on feathers and skin, causing the insects to release formic acid. It is thought that the acid is a way to rid themselves of parasites. Each generation endows the next with both beneficial and unhealthy gifts. Part of receiving that inheritance is to discern what needs to be kept and what needs to be discarded. Clarity and objectivity can help break the cycle of harmful patterns as we continue to be guided by those that are valuable.
wonderful post. I've often wondered how the nephew is doing.
ReplyDeleteThe level-headed one that actually owns it has a steadying influence on the one that manages it. :D
DeleteThank you for sharing that part of your life. Such a family business will always have a special place in your heart. it is good to know it is cared for. Makes you wonder who else will inherit it in the years to come. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I wish I had a photo of it when his parents first opened it, so we could see how it's changed through the generations.
Delete"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Chinese proverb. Good/great of FIL to start a business and look at the legacy. Nice!
ReplyDeleteWe all laugh now when we think of how my FIL thought having a restaurant would be a nice "hobby." He worked harder and longer there than he ever did at S-R! :D
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