… it must have been today, yet Mei-Shun had a pressing job. She therefore canceled lessons in the morning. After finishing what to do, she felt quite sore in throat. It has continued from last night actually, followed by a slight hurt. All right, how does thermometer analyze this symptom? It shows that she has a fever, a little as well. What a disappointing result! Lovely T.T., she misses you so much. However, she has to take care of herself to avoid any accident involving you.
miss you
Melancholy
StandardIt is said that 秋の日は釣瓶落とし, meaning the sun sets immediately in autumn like a hung pail falls onto the surface of a well. It really does: air around you suddenly gets chilly after 15:00, blue in the sky turns darker and darker toward real black just before 夕焼け小焼け, Home for Dark starts to sound through municipal radio system at 17:00. Since younger days, Mei-Shun prefers to hear it at home. Thanks to family members, a little sadness to say good-bye could be much alleviated.
Visit Ueno
StandardThis is the entrance hall of 伊豆榮梅川亭, Izuei-Umegawa-tei. They serve you delicious 鰻=unagi, baked eels and other Japanese cuisine. It reminds us of Shin’s father who passed away 16 years ago. He was a public servant for Tokyo Metropolitan Government, often contacted his son to dine there. Mei-Shun was always happy to hear his invitation, never interrupted their good communication. Dad-in-law kindly understood her thoughts, always handed Shin 2 cups of 餡蜜, an-mitsu sweets on his way home.
Smart Girls
StandardTora-chan jumped over cat gates again. It is a matter to be scolded, yet she stayed several steps backward this time. She has learned not to reach the second floor. Her touching attitude reminds Mei-Shun of Fuku-chan, mom-in-law’s late pug girl. Her lovely eyes and amicable character changed Mei-Shun’s feeling toward dogs with flat faces. She slept at lower landing of our stairs when mom-in-law left her alone at night, asking if she was allowed to be there by those 2 round beads.
Shiny White
StandardOur nearest shrine, where Mei-Shun drops in during her walking workout, grows them along the entrance path. Their beautiful profiles seem like welcoming visitors, while leading souls of beloved ones to their homes on obon vacation. It starts from tomorrow on Saturday, looking convenient for most of salaried workers. We had the newest holiday Mountain Day last Thursday, so if a leave is allowed including today, they would have 6-day off.
After 1Y + 18Wks
Standard… will be postponed to Tuesday. Mei-Shun visitied her mother staying in 草津 with a handmade birthday cake and Shin. He is always kind enough to agree with his wife’s idea — he had squeezed a vacancy out of his hard schedule, reserved bullet train seats to 軽井沢, Karuizawa with a rental car service. Just one-hour drive brought them to the cottage which Mei-Shun’s late father bought 20 years before. It is really cool and comfortable in summer there. Mom was fine, welcomed her children with fresh vegetables.
Happy Birthday
Standard… to you mom, in 草津, Kusatsu on one-month summer vacation there for these several years. She often told Mei-Shun that her birthday gift was a watermelon in her childhood. She and her two younger brothers were so happy to see it cooled in a well. Yes, that fruit worked as a birthday cake for children. Even today, big watermelons seem to symbolize joy of summer, especially for big boys including Shin, his late father and Mei-Shun’s. Shall we go to a greengrocer’s shop to buy one?
Happy Donuts
StandardSometimes you really crave them, don’t you? Mei-Shun does, maybe because she resembles her late father in favorite foods. He used to bring home a box of assorted donuts after job. Little Mei-Shun was so happy to choose one as a dessert next morning. Now on low-carb diet, she has to refrain from sweets as much as possible. However, when she feels herself out of control, it seems better to eat them a little, replacing other carbohydrates. Breakfast toast for example, as the best candidate for substitution.
The Longest Day
Standard… should have seen today on 夏至=ge-shi, the 10th of 二十四節気. However, most of us cannot recognize it in the middle of rainy season. It happened this year again — might be better to have a drought. More water is waited for our jug in Gunma Prefecture.
Missing You
StandardSeven years have elapsed since Mei-Shun’s beloved father passed away. She has made it a rule to contact her mother on this day in person as the best, on phone as better. Her second rule is to read a letter from him. When she passed the university entrance exam, he lived alone at his workplace in Kobe. Thanks to this timing, she is the only person in family who had a chance to be written to by him.
meishunkikunoe 