Dear Mr. Diamond, we have been looking forward to seeing you again: it took as long as two months to make you up. Mei-Shun’s late father, the previous owner would be pleased as well. And do you know, it is the last day of lunar January today. Shall we go to the nearest shrine tomorrow to make a wish on the best day? White plum trees are in full bloom there, while cherry trees grew buds from pale yellow to red.
Mei-Shun is a fruits lover. So was her late father, had some after every meal. They used to enjoy various citruses in February, never thought of strawberry — quite expensive, only for inpatients at hospitals, he said. Daddy, thanks to agricultural research and development, we have already rushed into another best season of those red, crispy and juicy babies.
Mei-Shun’s aunt of father’s side, precisely the bride of her father’s eldest brother living in Fukuoka is an excellent cook. One of the most superb is fig jam, made of fruits grown by herself. Normally so popular at a shop trading products of direct delivery from farms, she always keeps some for family and relatives. This time in much bigger bin, Mei-Shun separated it into babies for good preservation.
It really was this time. Mei-Shun actually has fought with a cold for 20 days, had to cancel a lot of lessons at her horseback riding club including today’s. Oh, it seems her waist has grown a few tires around. She would like to go out for a light walking for example, yet her home doctor advised her not to. Mr. Vanilla, Madoka-chan, please do not forget your mom of carrots and brown sugar.
Professor S. kindly gave Mei-Shun an invitation to a sale held at 平和島, Tokyo. The latter heard of this event from the former who is always in chic jackets, so much interested in. Her first experience was accompanied by Shin that allowed his wife to enjoy nice view of colorful foliage along 隅田川 River. Approaching the goal, she found 大井競馬場 and stared expecting a glance at a lovely horsey, yet saw nothing.
Meow-meow. Tora-chan, we hear you, yet where are you? Mom-in-law makes geranium bush and cactus arrangement beside the front door, where it sounds like coming from. Oh, there you are. You used to take shelter from raindrops under our olive branches which suddenly became full of green worms this summer. Thank you for staying so far as a guard of Fuku-chan’s grave.
This is みすず飴=misuzu-ame, Shin’s souvenir from Nagano Prefecture. Fruitful jelly wrapped with 和紙=washi, Japanese artistic paper is one of Mei-Shun’s favorite. More reasonable product in transparent package was a pet for her grandfather on mother’s side, a Nagano native. He stayed at a hospital for long, peacefully made his last journey just one week before his younger granddaughter’s marriage.
You have run so much kilometers in safe so far. Please kindly take our sincere gratitude. However, something weird often sounds from your engine these days. Your coatings on the roof, bonnet and rear bumper have begun to blur. Oh, how heartbreaking it is for Mei-Shun who took you over from her late father. She has to wait for another guy to replace you soon, handing you to Shin who has less time to drive.
Shin and Mei-Shun enjoyed on Saturday 宵々山=yoi-yoi-yama, floats exhibition held two nights before 山鉾巡行=yama-hoko-junko, march of these portable shrines of Kyoto Gi-On Festival. Here is their favorite 舟鉾=Fune-Hoko, ship-shaped one. It reminds them of their first Gi-On experience more than 20 years ago, when they met Mei-Shun’s father by chance on the way to Kyoto.
We are still in rainy season, yet no drop beats the ground around here these days. Dry wind starts to blow just after dawn, makes us feel exhausted. Sometimes grey clouds are seen, heavy thunder heard from far away, never reach this area expecting good shower for plants. And one of Japanese summer symbols seem to stay in their subterranean home: white cicada babies still wait the best timing to appear.
meishunkikunoe 