Long Time Expat In Japan
I had a cup of coffee at the Starbucks near the station with my two girls. They’re the best. On the walk back the youngest spots some signs in shop windows and says “Is Father’s Day tomorrow?” And I’m like, “Yeah, I guess it is.” The oldest says, “Wow, somehow I thought it was next … Continue reading My Dad’s Arm
There’s a dampening field on my mood. It’s called a face mask. A face mask numbs the muscles in my face. How does that sci-fi line go? “In space, no one can hear you scream.” In a mask, no one can see you feel. Sure, there are practical reasons. It itches. It scratches. It’s heavy … Continue reading Barriers
“Would you care to have a drink with me after work?" I said. "That would be lovely," she said. "Where and when?" "Ritz bar, this evening when you get through." "Five thirty," she said. "I'll meet you there," I said. Excerpt FromValedictionRobert B Parker Big Robert B. fan from decades past, I’m re-reading Valediction, published … Continue reading Fine, I’ll Meet You There
I’m not usually one to crow. I learned humility well and early, often with good reason. Tooting your own horn is unseemly. I am from a different age, I suppose. But I am disproportionately proud of this one bit of calligraphy that I did for a level up test recently. So enamored of it, in … Continue reading Proud – and a Little Ashamed of Being So
I have a problem with me time. It’s interfering with my sleep, not a good pattern to start. Like my father before me, I come home from work later than I want, and yearn for a cocktail as reward for a hard days work. Hey, I deserve it, don’t I? Sure I do. My drink … Continue reading Me Time
Ancient Chinese wisdom shows up in my calligraphy all the time. That’s kind of the idea. This week’s pulled on my heart strings a s being particularly true. 翰逸神飛 When the pen flows, the spirit flies.
Not a Zoom meeting but close. Don’t misunderstand. I’m very thankful for my job. I have so much to be appreciative for. But this meeting was loooooong
A while back, I started recording my dreams. I don't always remember, but last night I had a dream about BTS. If you’re neither interested in dreams not BTS, fair warning to stop reading. I am not a teenage girl. <dream>I was at a music festival in the states, which turned out to be Canobie … Continue reading Recording More Dreams
When I say awesome, I kind of mean “messed up.” Take the image below... This is in one of my favorite free health news magazines. I pass by a pharmacist near my neighborhood, and every month or so there is a new magazine. The above is from the end of last year, but it was … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Health News
My kana practice from last month is another waka poem. The rough translation is below. The fragrance of plumsAmong the sounds around youThe familiar chirp of the bush warblerMountain village in Spring 梅が香に、類へて聞けば、うぐひすの、声なつかしき、春の山里 As a side note, the bush warbler doesn't really have the poetic punch that another bird might have, say the nightingale or … Continue reading Shodo – Mountain Village in Spring
B.S. Donovan 