Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. F. They are friendly owners of parking space we rent for guests. Tall and gray-haired Mr. F appears in person to bring summer gift to us, always greets touching his hat while small and gentle Mrs. F does for winter. Oh, please stop bowing so much. The former told Mei-Shun in June to give new rice, and really did today. Speaking of which, she found all rice harvested on walking way the other day. Does it mean she has used their private lane between paddies for free?
lucky
After 1Y + 21Wks
StandardThank you so much, Dr. A. She gave Mei-Shun “Yes” phone call last night, telling her no problem was found in the latest blood sample. It is said no news is good news. Mei-Shun agrees with this old saying and makes it a rule not to think about the disease after her regular visit to the hospital. Please, ma chérè mère, let her do so every time.
Japanese Culture@wkday
Standard… or holiday it seems this year. When Mei-Shun drove Shin to the nearest station in the morning, it was almost empty. That reminded her of obon leave which many of us would enjoy till tonight. 乙戸沼 Park had, on the other hand, a few more walkers and runners than usual. Three water funnels danced giving nice sound, looked like a couple and another — oh? You’ve been taken as identical triplets so far. Or some of you are on vacation as we do?
Bowl Couple
StandardThey are purchased at 友部, Tomobe Service Station on Joban Highway. Ms. TANAKA, Alba is from Nicaragua, graduated from Mexican National Pottery School. She built her own kiln at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba in 1992. Her works are so light that you won’t feel even a full bowl of rice held in a hand. Shin and Mei-Shun were lucky enough to find her on leading-to-Tokyo lane of the highway: only this side serves wide space featuring a few artists including Ms. TANAKA.
Cicada Lady
StandardShe is so small that Mei-Shun’s thumb fits her size in half. You are a lady who gives no voice, aren’t you? Thanks to keep silent, Mikan-chan is very much interested in you. Your peaceful repose let us go on quiet in mind. As for her mom, she is a bit scary at your buzzing to rush toward her. However, she takes you nearly cute today. What is your breed, honey? If you are the romantic 蜩, higurashi who sing at dawn and sunset, she feels quite lucky to see you.
Calming Rain
StandardThe two men crouched by our troubled dishwasher and discussed, resulted in an initial failure of the appliance maker. Gray-haired gas fitter left saying good luck, younger salesperson stayed to call a repairer. The latter was driving around here by chance, visited us in a minute. He aligned the machine, told Mei-Shun that the door had not been locked enough. She tried once again, succeeded in making it start. Hi, Mikan-chan, what a good girl you’ve kept, with so many male strangers!
Foggy Paddy
StandardWe meet the sun as early as 5 o’clock in summer, yet he never appears 3 hours later today. Well, quite lucky for Mei-Shun — it is so nice to walk in morning fog. Birds seem stay in the bed, so do annoying flies above muddy water. She could save sunscreen cream as well, only a cap would work in this cool condition.
Grown Up
StandardHello, sweet birdies. You just look like mom! Mei-Shun missed your fluffy baby days — still cute enough you are, of course. Stormy weather of today might prevent you from flying away. Great to see you stay here. Oh, you keep yellow parts beside beaks to call mom. Where is she?
Japanese Culture@wkday
StandardHere is new pair of sneakers. Thank you so much, Shin. They say red underwear called 申赤 (=saru -aka, meaning monkey red) brings good fortune in 申年. “Saru” leads to “去る” in the same pronunciation, meaning to go away, expected for bad fortune. Well, Mei-Shun has some while loves red shoes as well.
National Bird
StandardWhen Shin walks to the station, his wife joins these days. He heads to the west, she does to the north. Mei-Shun is lucky to see two male pheasants on the way to the nearest shrine. They look struggling for territory beside rice paddies soon watered to accommodate frogs, egrets and herons.
meishunkikunoe 