Category: seasons

OH, Japan!

Oh, Japan! Never could I have imagined the impact that a short trip to accompany my husband on a business trip to Japan in the 1980's would have on my life. The impact was profound and has continued to influence my life in ways small and large. Suddenly I was presented with a very different … Continue reading OH, Japan! →

Thirteen Reasons I’ll be Returning

« | Main | » 05/08/2013 Note:  If this blog looks familiar, it's because I originally wrote it more than three years ago. It still holds true.  Parentheses added for additional thoughts now.  The order of these reasons has no significance! 13 reasons I'll be going back! 1. CIVILITY.  Everyone is NICE !  Customers are always cordially welcomed and … Continue reading Thirteen Reasons I’ll be Returning →

The Cat and the Mouse

I knew we were in for a visual fest when we received an invitation to join our friend Masa to visit a garden at the Daitoku-ji that is only open to the public for a short time in the spring and autumn.  I didn't know that the visit would prompt a spontaneous game of cat … Continue reading The Cat and the Mouse →

oh! oy? christmas

I never feel ready for it. I am often baffled by it. I am uncomfortable with certain aspects of it. I am also fascinated by it. It? Christmas. In Key West this year, Christmas manifests itself with over the top displays of lights, displayed on the unquestioned assumption that more is better, particularly if it's … Continue reading oh! oy? christmas →

It’s Almost Like Being in Love

When I'm in Japan, people seem nicer, the landscape more beautiful, the mundane more interesting. The giggling groups of young women enjoying each other's company help me to appreciate how fleeting youth is.  The laughs I share with new friends are more frequent. The reds are redder, the golds more golden. Respect for and tolerance … Continue reading It’s Almost Like Being in Love →