Our nearest shrine has a lot of plants including beautiful bloomers. One of them is plum or ume, found in pale pink and white. Mei-Shun walked to there this morning after weeks — that might be why her omikuji was 凶=kyo, the worst luck. Oh, please forgive her, St. 摩利支天=mari-shiten. Her oath to resume good diet and exercise is solid. On the way to home, another ume in rose pink attracted her eyes. As soon as she stepped into the porch, wind started to blow harder. Thanks to his kind protection?
Mei-Shun drove mom-in-law to one of major shrines in Japan 八坂神社=yasaka-jinja whose headquarters is located in Kyoto. It is called 祇園さん as well, since the famous Gion Festival is hosted by them. Our nearest branch of 八坂神社 was late dad-in-law’s favorite. He used to buy something at a food stand along a path to the shrine to warm up our hands during midnight queuing for hours. 17 years later, we quietly spend 30 minutes in sunshine to worship.
It has started from today while winter vacation in solar calendar. As the best day to make a wish, Mei-Shun walked to the nearest shrine. Interested in her wish? Health, of course. 2016 has only three days left, she has not yet reached the goal — perhaps one and a half (or two!) bags of sugar stay all over her body. Without moonlight, with sacred protection of 大吉=the luckiest omikuji, she would pull her socks up and resume necessary efforts.
Shin and Mei-Shun walked to their nearest shrine. Omikuji for the latter is as follows:
第七番 末吉 The 7th The Least Lucky
このみくじにあう人は 例えば舟に乗って 順風を待つ人のようで 月の光も曇り 山高くして車も行きにくい相と云える しかし神明を信じ 心の誠を尽くすならば やがて順風来り 月も輝きを増してくる
For those who see this sacred lot, it is like waiting for wind aboard a boat with moonlight deterred by clouds, mountains too high to go across by car. Belief in the Goddess Amaterasu and honesty would let them go ahead with good breeze and bright moon.
He looks so lonely. His countless number of family members are already involved in their last job to make up bright yellow carpet under the father tree, getting browned day by day. When he is blown away, what would happen? Fortunately, that story by Mr. O. Henry does not reflect Mei-Shun’s family; it seems they have nobody to leave soon. Autumn 2016 would have gone away completely, won’t it? Well, it was bizarre one. Snow in November, yellow maple leaves, etc.
風流堂=furyu-do, based in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture is on Mei-Shun’s favorite Japanese sweets shop list. When their products were available at the nearest department store, she used to visit there to buy seasonal gifts; 御中元=o-chugen in summer, 御歳暮=o-seibo in winter. However, as informed that the store will be closed soon, she started internet shopping. 風流堂 is so kind to send her a handwritten letter and a little gift attached to ordered goods.
Mei-Shun had a computed tomography held once an year today, on 朔日=saku-jitsu, the first date of a month in lunar calendar with a new moon at night. Thanks to the good timing of CT scanning, she was able to learn a little how to read the image from Dr. A. She said it looked fine, adding that she would give a “Yes” phone call after 2 weeks. Actually, before visiting the hospital, Mei-Shun walked to the nearby shrine and won the luckiest omikuji fortune.
It really is in Tsukuba right now. Most of main streets are trimmed by trees beautifully bloom in spring, colored in autumn. Mei-Shun’s favorite includes Japanese maple whose coats depend on daily temperature and weather in summer especially. Perhaps the latter made one yellow instead of red, with already browned leaves on the top. Another keeps green while in part turning into bright red. The only problem is that they are too attractive to keep drivers’ eyes on the road.
It was lucky for Mei-Shun to see them on the back of T.T. — Tosen Treasure, a thoroughbred boy with pretty eyes and a round star on forehead. Still single digit years old, he is very kind and friendly, let her feel relaxed after two weeks. Well, does it mean a little progress in her technique? You are supposed to look up while keeping your back straighten up on horses, which is not so easy for beginners. Oh, please wait until next lesson for photos; merciless shower began to beat lovely flowers.
Dr. A gave Mei-Shun a “Yes” phone call on Saturday, after the latter went out for shopping in the morning. Weekend department store is crowded with parking space nearly full. However, on the floor put a sign of white rabbit as shown below, one car drove out just before Mei-Shun reached there. By the way, rose scent tour last week seemed to be won by another kind rabbit on a postage stamp following next to the one for drivers.
meishunkikunoe 