2014/3/21
I'll join a package tour to the Hawaiian Islands.
My suitcase has gone to Narita Airport.
Tomorrow I'm going to fly to Honolulu.
Then I'll set out a 7-day cruise
in the Hawaiian islands.
We are supposed to call at ports of
Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai.
I hope I can see the native beauty of the islands.
Our ship is a Norwegian ship named ‘Pride of America.’
It has 8 restaurants, 10 bars or lounges,1069 cabins,
sports courts, a concert hall, etc.
There will be many people from Europe.
I'm looking forwatd to seeing many people
from different countries.
See you in April!
2014/3/17
At the end ofthe parade they were picking up litter
in the street.
What a happy parade!
All the people watching the parade looked happy.
My friends and I were very happy.
It was our first time to see St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The parade was terribly exciting!
After enjoying the parade, we walked to Yoyogi Park
and enjoyed ‘I love Ireland Festival.

We walked, talked and laughed a lot.
I had a wonderful Sunday.
I walked 13899 steps in a day.
2014/3/17
Everybody joining the parade was wearing something green.
Do you know shamrocks?
A shamrock is a small plant with three green leaves on each
stem that is the national sign of Ireland. (from Longman)












2014/3/17
I hear they celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day
on March 17 in Ireland.
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick passed away on March 17.
St. Patrick's Day is now celebrated around the world.
Yesterday, here in Tokyo, St. Patrick's Day Parade
was held on the 表参道 street.
I went to see the parade with my friends.


We had a light lunch at a restaurant on the表参道 street.

Wow! we saw a newly married couple walking outside the restaurant.
We ran out and gave them a congratulation clap!


Here comes the Parade!











2014/3/14
koharu is my 13-year-old granddaughter.
This is a sneaker for her right foot.
I was surprised to see the sneaker.
It looked like a real one.
It was made of something like clay.
koharu made it in her art class at junior high school.
How about making the other sneaker
for your left foot, koharu?

2014/3/11
Do you remember the day--March 19, 1974?
You were only six years old.
My neighbor took you to the hospital around the midnight.
I was waiting for you at the back door of the hospital.
I said nothing.
You asked me nothing.
Large tears ran down your cheeks.
I took you to your father's sickroom.
He was lying dead in bed.
You said the last good-bye to your father—
“I'll be all right, Dad.
I'll keep my heart up and stay alive with Mom.
So, please rest in peace, Dad.”
You have been my best friend, Daughter.
You have been my LIFE, Daughter.
Your father should be proud of you, Daughter.
I’d like to say 'Thank you' on your birthday.

2014/3/10
Yesterday I went to Tachikawa Cinema again
and watched a movie “12 Years a Slave,”
「それでも夜は明ける」in Japanese title.
The film is the Extraordinary True Story
of Solomon Northup (1808 – 1863?).
He was a free-born black man in the pre-Civil War
United States.
He was spending a happy life in New York with
his family.
But one day he was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
He was forced to work as a slave in a few plantations
in Louisiana in the south of America.
Solomon Northup had been working for 12 years
when he saw a Canadian abolitionist of slavery.
With the help of the abolitionist, Solomon Northup
gained his freedom again and returned to his family
in New York.
Yes, the theme of this movie is Slavery.
How cruel, violent and heartless!
Solomon Northup never gave up.
Solomon Northup never grew desperate.
Solomon Northup never abandoned his dignity.
Solomon Northup stayed alive.
I couldn't choke back my tears at the last scene
where Solomon Northup came back to his family
in New York.
Solomon Northup wrote and published a book about
his 12 years as a slave in Louisiana:
“12 Years a Slave.”
This is an extremely impressive movie, I think.

