Mei-Shun sees many colorful envelopes of おぼんだま=o-bon-dama at post offices, supermarkets and convenience stores these days. Written all in ひらがな=hiragana, it took a time for her to recognize that it means お盆玉, obviously derived from お年玉=o-toshi-dama, new-year allowance. Summer vacation is equivalent to family reunion: giraffe-necked grandparents are ready to use them.
Mr. Avocado, we are so happy to see you again. Since you moved onto our garden last year, conditions have been harder. However, you survived growing greener, stood tightly on the ground. Even in winter, you looked all right putting off browned leaves one by one. And it stopped there — nothing seen on your stalk until yesterday, when mom-in-law found your second baby.
… to you, mom, now on vacation at her cottage in Kusatsu. It rains hard with respites for a while all day long today unlike normal years. Mei-Shun would like to e-mail her, yet communication between Ibaraki and Gunma Prefectures really depends. Mom has been surprised by messages from her younger daughter delivered at midnight. Their voice on line never sound comfortable …
Mikan-chan always knows how Mei-Shun feels. When the latter takes rest on a futon mat with a fever, the former immediately joins while relaxes at her best place, looking indifferent when her mom is in better condition. All the same occurs between her parents — when Shin and Mei-Shun are in a bad mood after quarrel, their fluffy daughter rushes toward them with her tail upheld, turns on her back purring.
We are so happy to see you two in the garden. And it was lucky for Mei-Shun who found you standing straight up in green before Shin used the lawn mower. Ah, that might be why she often saw butterfly couples these days. They were messengers sent by you to let us know today’s festival, weren’t they? All right, let’s wish 織姫 and 彦星 would be able to meet tonight crossing a bridge made by magpies over the galaxy.
Mei-Shun made it: she finally found piano scores which she had been looking for at a musical instruments shop! “A Maiden’s Prayer” by T. Badarzewska reminds her of long-forgotten tune by her mother who sometimes played this and Beethoven’s “For Elise”. Others include “Le Cygne” by C. C. Saint-Saëns and a best album featuring Studio Ghibli‘s animation films by J. Hisaishi.
It is from me and mom, though daddy Shin is still in the plane to the U. S. right now. That means he sees two birthdays this year, doesn’t it? Mom practices Japanese dance after taking care of me. All right, go ahead. I’ll stay here not to make you panicked at losing me, while to keep quiet.
Meow, are you going to take a nap? Let me join on your futon mat. Purrrr …
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Thank you so much, Dr. A, for giving Mei-Shun a “Yes” phone call yesterday. It was recorded by her fixed device, not by portable one. The latter was in a bullet train returning from奈良 via 新大阪, moving too fast to catch such a faint radio wave. Next appointment is set on July 25th. She hopes her current method would safely pass the halfway of losing weight till then.
Willow, gingko and persimmon. It is so nice to see you become greener and greener day by day. Oh, regarding progress, Mei-Shun and Madoka-chan share happy promotion: the former would go up to gallop classes while the latter graduate from training program. Senior instructors gave formal approval to Madoka-chan, yet they did not for Mei-Shun who feels a bit worried about the next lesson …
Mei-Shun thought she lost it. Following below is her omikuji drew weeks ago at the nearest shrine, came out of upper pocket of her backpack:
The 36th Lucky. For those who see this sacred lot, it would be in a shape to end once prior to resume. Therefore, their wish would come true while better if not being in a hurry. Give honest prayer to the God, consider well before doing, and brilliant delight would be gained.
And she met that incredible carpet there again — under cherry trees.
meishunkikunoe 