Where Globe-Trotting meets Beach-Combing
My friend and tea ceremony sensei, Sumie, asked two months ago whether I would like to help out with the NAF Atsugi Base 2023 Spring Festival, the first since Covid. I thanked her very much and said yes, absolutely, and with great delight! Practicing as winter turns to spring Since then, every week or two…
Life Chapel International celebrated Easter together this year for the first time in four years. So let’s party! Many church members get lunch at 711 at eat together on Sundays, but Easter Sunday the church hosted. How could we help? Bring dessert! Eloise volunteered to make cupcakes. For hours Friday evening, we refilled our nine-cupcake-pan…
If you drive south south south south south on the Miura Peninsula to its southernmost point, and cross the bridge to the Jogashima Island, then cross the island to the jagged coast on the far side, you can stare out at the Pacific Ocean, where there is nothing but blowing waves, typhoons and the odd…
My sights were set on Hokokuji Temple for my kids’ Kamakura day of spring break. We were not thwarted by a rerouted bus, weird train connections or the several-kilometer walk. Hokokuji Temple hangs suspended in my mind, unchanging. I can see the stepping stones through the bamboo so clearly, hear the trickling of the mountain…
Chris will be traveling a lot this month and didn’t want to do anything this weekend. But he did want to go slog around in the blowing rain at the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Friendship Day for some reason. I did not have a good attitude about it, and while we did get all wet…
The Miurakaigan Cherry Blossom Festival A morning cloudburst cancelled the cultural outing to the Miurakaigan Cherry Blossom Festival I was planning to attend. But I am no fair weather blossom chaser! Off I went on my own. Actually, that’s not really true—I am a fair weather blossom chaser. But the sun was out and shining,…
Hina Matsuri is GIRLS DAY in Japan, and we got to celebrate with our girl in Japan. Eloise fills our lives with light and laughter. What a great reason to celebrate. Hina Matsuri is March third, following the tradition of having holidays on lucky days like 3/3, 5/5 (Boys/Children’s Day), 7/7 (Tanabata). To celebrate, we…
