2008/12/29
What a lovely day!
It's very warm during the day.
I can't believe it is now winter.
Today I went to Kunitachi City
to see a good friend of mine.
I had a very good time.
After enjoying talking a lot
I walked down Daigaku-Dori Avenue.
Days have passed and the year 2008 will soon end.
I'm leaving Tokyo for Ise on Dec. 31.
I will pay a visit to Ise-jingu Shrine on New Year's Day.
I'll be back in a few days.
I hope the year 2009 will be a good year
for you and your family.
(Daigaku-Dori Avenue in Kunitachi City)
2008/12/26
I enjoyed a silhouette on the shoji-window
sitting in the rocking chair and thought of my past days.
I like the view from Bandai-bashi bridge.
2008/12/26
I came to live in Tokyo in the year of 2000.
Almost nine years have passed.
I went back to Niigata six times
in the first year in Tokyo.
This year I went back to my house in Niigata
only three times.
Whenever I am in Niigata, I feel relaxed.
Whenever I see what I used to see in Niigata,
I feel my heart filled with good old memories.
My precious memories always encourage me to live.
Yes, I know I have to live out my life.
Where?---in Niigata or in Tokyo?
That's the question.
(from Shinkansen-window)
(in front of Niigata Station)
I saw a big strange plant growing in my garden.
It had fruit.
2008/12/19
I'm going home tomorrow-- to Niigata City.
I'll leave my apartment early in the morning.
Nobody lives in my house in Niigata.
It is an old wooden house.
It is one of my greatest treasures, though.
I have many precious memories of my family there.
I'll open all the windows to let fresh air into the rooms.
I'll sit in the rocking chair and think of my past days.
I'll have a good time.
See you next week, dear friends.
(blue skies on my way to the community center)
( yesterday's harmonica-volunteering )
2008/12/17
A cold rain was falling all day long.
I went to my favorite hairdresser's in the morning.
I felt refreshed.
I walked slowly in the rain and went to my daughter's.
The rain had abated.
I took it easy without doing anything today.
It's good to have a day like today.
2008/12/15
In December time flies more quickly
than in any other month.
I'm surprised that itt's already December 15th!
What have I been doing so far?
I've got a cold.
I have not been feeling good most of the time.
It was very cold this morning.
The temperature in Shibuya-ku was reported
to be 3.6℃ this morning.
The temperature here in Tama area
might have been below zero.
It got warmer and warmer in the daytime.
My granddaughter, koharu, came home
around three o'clock.
She looked well.
She drew some pictures in her notebook.
Then she did her homework.
My grandson came home from junior high school
before four o'clock.
Last Friday he left school early
because he felt very ill.
It was his first time in his 9 school years.
He looks a little tired, though he says he is all right.
I'm glad he has a good appetite anyway.
koharu is now reading a book---
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables
translated by Yumiko Taniguchi.
koharu, her brother and I are waiting
for their mother's return.
( written at half past four this afternoon )
--------------------------------------
view from the Acropolis in Greece
in December in 2003
2008/12/12
Today I attended Friday English Class
at the community center.
This was the last class in December.
We read a story from the book 'Chicken Soup'
in the first half of the class and had a Christmas party
in the latter half.
Our American teacher brought us a carton of Eggnog.
"Eggnog is a very, very popular drink
especially in Christmas season,"she said.
It was a very sweet drink.
Do you drink eggnog for Christmas dinner?
(today's sky)