My Days, Months, and Years2011-07-26T11:43:49+09:00danceofdragon記念すべき誕生日。はて何歳? A Memorable Birthday. How Old Now??Excite Blogレイちゃんは盲導犬の卵 Rae is a Future Guide Doghttp://dradance.exblog.jp/16328274/2011-07-26T11:43:50+09:002011-07-26T11:43:49+09:002011-07-26T11:43:49+09:00danceofdragon未分類レイちゃんが来てこの方、予想通り、忙しくてブログが書けません(- -;)。書きたいことは山ほどあるのにぃ。「そういう時ほど書けないのよね〜。」と、ブログをなかなか更新しないのを心配して電話をくれたchiezoさんと話したところです。3ヶ月の赤ちゃんだったレイちゃんも既に6ヶ月、ずいぶん大きくなりました。
Since Rae came to our house, as I expected, I hardly have time to update the blog. (- -;) There is so much that I want to write about. “The more to write about, the less time to write.” I just had such a conversation with chiezo-san. She called the other day, worried about my long silence. Rae, who was only three months old when she came, is now six months old. She has grown so much bigger.
Anyway, this is the second part of my story of how we came to have Rae. Firmly catching the message delivered by the white messenger, a decision was made, “We are going to have a dog!” On the other hand, we had to think level-headedly. If we were to make a commitment to take care of a dog during his whole 10 years-plus life. I was already so overloaded physically as well as mentally with princess who needs constant care. There was no capacity left in me to be responsible for another life. Financial responsibility was also another issue. Abandoning a dog irresponsibly just because it has become inconvenient for us is the last thing I would ever want to do.
So I turned my eyes to another option, “Puppy Raising,” which is to raise a guide dog puppy. I thought I could put all my effort into the puppy if I knew it would be temporary. Yes, as some of you already know, Rae is a puppy born to be a guide dog for the blind. Not our pet.
First, Casey strongly opposed the idea, saying it would be too cruel to Andrew. Knowing that we would have to return the puppy one day. He said if we were going to have a dog, we should take care of him as part of the family until the very end. However, he was the one who didn’t want to have a pet dog at all. Every time we brought up the subject, his face grew sour. “It doesn’t make sense at all (- -;). Puppy raising is the only choice we have, isn’t it?” I just could not disappoint dragon who was so looking forward to having a dog.
I talked to dragon about raising a guide dog puppy but at first he didn’t catch on. I would not blame him since he had never seen a guide dog before. He also said he didn’t like the idea of returning the puppy one day. However, as I explained, he began showing some interest. He imagined what if someone close to him becomes blind.... “It won’t do any harm just checking out what it is like, huh?” It was late January when I emailed an organization called, “Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB)” which I had already found on the internet. Meanwhile, Rae had given her first cry two days earlier in the kennel of the organization, which of course there was no way for us to know... (to be continued)]]>小さな白いメッセンジャー A Little White Messengerhttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15968098/2011-05-14T11:54:51+09:002011-05-14T11:54:50+09:002011-05-14T11:54:50+09:00danceofdragon未分類レイちゃんが我が家にやってくるまでの長いいきさつ、やはりこの犬との不思議な出会いなしには語れません。話は去年の11月にさかのぼります。私たちの目の前に一匹の犬がふと現れました。
How did we come to have Rae? This long story cannot begin without talking about a mysterious encounter with this dog. It goes back to November of last year. All of a sudden, this dog appeared out of nowhere.
Night had fallen when we came home from dragon’s Kung Fu class. Something caught my eye, something white moving in a neighbor’s front yard. But before I realized what it was, dragon dashed toward it, crying, “That’s a DOG!!!” The next moment, he was back with the dog in his arms. A female chihuahua. I cannot describe how excited he was. He ran around to get some water and bread for her. He was already trying to name her. “Oh, no, he thinks she is already his dog...(- -;)” Dumbfounded and fascinated with overjoyed dragon, I was totally at a loss what to do.
Casey was out of town for a business trip that night. Soon he called to see how we were doing. When I talked about the dog, he calmly said, “We don’t know who she belongs to. We just can’t keep the dog like that. You have to take her to an animal care center where they will look for the owner.” Although he made complete sense, I couldn’t help taking sides with dragon. However, I eventually returned to my senses and decided to do what Casey had said.
Needless to say, this conversation made dragon so upset. He dashed out of the house, crying out so loudly. I hung up the phone and ran outside to find dragon sobbing so hard. There was no dog. To my surprise, he had let the dog go. “What? Did you let her go?” I frantically looked around but she wasn’t anywhere. I had to put so much effort to comfort him, saying, “I think she went back to her owner. It was very courageous of you, you were able to give her up.”
All this took place in about 30 minutes. The situation was so intense, intense enough to make me sure that having a dog would be good for dragon. It had already been proven with hamsters that his love for animals is extraordinary. I seriously began to think about a dog that night.
One more thing. Later, I told my sister-in-law about what happened. Guess what she said! “That must be a messenger. Wasn’t the dog white?” We had never seen the dog before. We have never seen it since. Was she really a messenger for us? I think she was; “a little white messenger.”]]>なんで犬がぁぁ?! Why A Dog?http://dradance.exblog.jp/15930202/2011-05-07T10:22:12+09:002011-05-07T10:22:11+09:002011-05-07T10:22:11+09:00danceofdragon未分類「えーーーっ?!犬飼ってたのぉ?」という驚きの質問が聞こえてきそうです。はい、本当に「犬」がいます。「子犬」です。4月16日に我が家にやって来ました。自分でも信じられないのですが、これには、長〜いいきさつがあるのです。それはまた次回ということで、画像で紹介だけしておきますね。名前はRae(レイ)ちゃん、生後3ヶ月のラブラドール・レトリーバー、女の子です。よろしく!
“What?? You have a dog?????” I can almost hear you cry out that question. Yes, I caught you by surprise. WE REALLY HAVE A DOG!! A PUPPY!! She came here on April 16. I still cannot believe that we have a dog. How did we come to have a dog? It’s a long, long story that I will tell you next time. Today I just would like to show-off her picture. Her name is Rae, a three months old labrador retriever. “It’s very nice to meet you!!”]]>原発のこと About Nuclear Powerhttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15899032/2011-05-01T12:37:44+09:002011-05-01T12:37:43+09:002011-05-01T12:37:43+09:00danceofdragon未分類
安全でクリーンだと思っていた(思わされていた?)原子力発電。この「安全神話」の背景には、もしもの事態に備えて、幾層もの手段が用意されているものと思っていました。想定できるあらゆる危機に対処する、確固たるシナリオがあるものだと。ところが今回の事故で、「想定外だった」を繰り返す関係者の姿から、シナリオなんてほとんど存在してなかったことは素人目にも明らか、一体どこまで想定していたかも怪しいものです。
With regard to the nuclear power plant, I cannot help feeling dismayed as various facts are brought to light. The seismic capacity of the very power plant in Fukushima had already been questioned because of its age. Regardless of the fact, its operational terms has been extended for another 10 years. Two years ago, before the change of government, nuclear power safety measures were included in the government budget (reportedly by the recommendation from the International Atomic Energy Agency). However, the budget was screened and cut by the new government last year. Moreover, a possibility of large-scale tsunamis in that particular area had been pointed out by seismologists, for which the government and TEPCO (Tokyo Electric) did nothing.
I was one of those who believed (or were made believe) nuclear power was safe and clean. I thought this myth of nuclear safety was firmly based upon layers of measures prepared for emergency. Well-established scenarios to cope with every possible crisis. However, this incident in Fukushima has revealed that there were almost no scenarios. It didn’t take a trained eye to know. They simply repeat that the intensity and devastation of the tsunamis was beyond the scope of assumption. Then how far had they assumed?
However mighty the technology, it is a human being that uses the technology after all. If humans do not have the capacity, technology has no meaning. It may be true that nuclear power is a clean energy but to me the cost for it is just too high. The leak of radioactive material has terrorized so many people and affected the course of so many people’s lives. Possible health hazard and environmental pollution...
It is such irony that Japan, having suffered from the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and knowing the nuclear horror better than anybody else in the world, is now making its own people suffer from it. Moreover, the situation is far from being solved soon. It looks like to be a lengthy ordeal, with no way of knowing when it will be over. I just cannot stand the idea that my beloved relatives and friends in Japan are living in such vague uncertainty.
I have been so ignorant about where and how the electricity is made, that I usually spend it so nonchalantly. Do we really need nuclear power? Can’t the economy grow without consuming more energy? Am I wasting energy? What can I do? I heard that during the rolling blackouts conducted in the areas covered by TEPCO, individuals who cut back their power usage contributed tremendously to reduce overall consumption. Individuals can only do a small part but if we all carefully use electricity, maybe someday, we won’t need nuclear power at all...
Since the March 11 earthquake/tsunamis, things have been swirling in my head. I could not put them in order. Now that I was able to let out some of them here, I think I can move on.]]>二人に何が起こった! What’s Happened to Them?!http://dradance.exblog.jp/15714799/2011-03-26T11:34:41+09:002011-03-26T11:34:42+09:002011-03-26T11:34:42+09:00danceofdragon未分類我が家の二人の男の子(?)は身体を動かすのが大好き。週末は二人で野球やらバスケットボールやらフットボールやら、自転車で近所を回ったり、せっせと身体を動かしています。ところが、最近それがちょっと違って来たのです。この寒いのに、二人でガレージに籠って、じっと座って何かやってるのです。なんとプラモデル製作にいそしんでいるではありませんか。驚きぃ〜。
My two boys(?) love physical activities. On weekends, they are busy playing baseball, basketball and football together. Sometimes they go on a bike ride around our neighborhood. Recently, however, I noticed something different. I started seeing the two boys retreating into the garage during this cold weather. They sitting still, working on something. Believe it or not, they were busy working on plastic models. Was I surprised or not!?
It all started last summer when we went to a Self-Defense Force public relations center in Japan. Dragon begged me to buy a model tank. With much suspicion if he would really make it, I reluctantly bought him one. I was not surprised that the box was left untouched for a few months. All of a sudden, however, he started working on it as if he was triggered by something. He read the directions all by himself and built it in no time. He painted it all by himself, too. It didn’t look bad at all. Dra... Dragon making a plastic model?? I could not believe it.
The tank was followed by a Zero fighter plane, a jet fighter called Super Hornet, a Ferrari, another Zero, etc. I watched with my mouth open. However, this was not the only surprise. Inspired by his own son, Casey has been hooked with making models, too. Sitting still to make something, this is something I had never seen Casey do during the 20 years of our marriage. He was not even patient enough to put one piece in a jigsaw puzzle!! Now he is putting so much effort into model-making. He even bought a magnifying glass with a light. “What is happening to them?”!!!
It is still with disbelief that I see them gleefully making visits to the hobby shop and working on models sitting side by side like good friends in the garage. The garage has turned into a studio. The collection of finished models is growing bigger as the space for display gets smaller (^ ^;). So far dragon has finished 11 models and Casey has finished 5 models. I keep saying, “Why don’t you guys do it a bit slowly? Our wallet is getting thinner fast.” But I know the time spent like this, dad and son together, will surely be irreplaceable treasure for us.
]]>本物、ビーズ、ステッチ、紙そして陶器 Real, Beaded, Stitched, Paper and Ceramic http://dradance.exblog.jp/15677689/2011-03-18T13:13:15+09:002011-03-18T13:13:15+09:002011-03-18T13:13:15+09:00danceofdragon未分類
I have been so preoccupied with the earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear issues that my brain has frozen.... I just wish that all the problems at the nuclear power plant would be solved as soon as possible. Here is an article I had written before the earthquake.
It looks like we have been to almost everywhere that we can go on a day trip. Are there still places we can go to? I was just wondering that when I discovered this place. A place we had never been to, turned out to be my favorite, a lighthouse in a famous tourist town called Monterey.
As soon as I found out the weather would be nice one February weekend, we were on the move to check it out. A lighthouse usually stands at the edge of a windswept cliff. However, this lighthouse, called Point Pinos, is on flatland, some distance away from the shoreline. No wonder I never noticed it in spite of our many trips to Monterey.
A tiny picturesque building with charm. This lighthouse was actually a house! On the first floor was a kitchen and a living room. A bedroom and an office on the second floor. A spiral stairway leading up to the bright room. It was as though we were in a dollhouse. The ocean view from the bay window upstairs was great. I wished that I could live in the house. Of course I would have to be a lighthouse keeper. I’m beginning to feel like I want to visit lighthouses all over the world.
March is my birthday month. By coincidence or not, I received 4 lighthouses. 3 handmade lighthouses in a beaded bracelet, a cross stitch ornament, and a lighthouse made of paper. And a miniature ceramic lighthouse. They all warm my heart. Many, many thanks to all of you!!]]>誕生日直前、不二子とのお別れ Losing Fujiko Just Before A Birthdayhttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15577939/2011-02-27T13:57:00+09:002011-02-27T14:08:00+09:002011-02-27T13:57:31+09:00danceofdragon未分類
Dragon turned 12 years old. Almost everyday he persistently asks me, “Am I getting taller?” “Is my Adam’s apple getting bigger?” or “Is my voice cracking or lower?” Including something I can’t write about here (^ ^;). He doesn’t like me saying, “No, not yet.” He keeps me posted of every single change. Recently, he has gotten taller, reaching 5’2”. It seems it is only a matter of time when he will pass me up. Then his daddy, too? Going through puberty, he is emotionally struggling to get over these agonizing days.
(舞姫はもう就寝してました(^ ^;)。Princess was already in bed then. (^ ^;))
In the mean time, his birthday came. Although he was very happy, it actually turned out to be a sad birthday for dragon. He suddenly lost Fujiko. It happened five days before his birthday. In the morning, dragon found her dying in her nest and in his shaking hands she completely stopped moving. Fujiko had gotten much smaller but she was as active as usual until the night before. This unexpectedly early death was very shocking to us. She had been with us for 14 months.
However, she went very peacefully in her nest during sleep. I think it was easier for dragon to accept her death by actually seeing her go. Lupin, her predecessor, died when dragon was at school. There are so many memories that Fujiko left us. I don’t know how many time she escaped from her cage. It won’t be easy to find a hamster like that, so unique and energetic. Now she is resting next to Lupin. “Fujiko, you were a great hamster!! Thank you for leaving all the fun memories!!”
(友人のワンちゃん、不二子に魅せられて目が釘づけでした。Friend’s pet. He was so fascinated with Fujiko that he couldn’t take his eyes off her!!)
(不二子が脱出するたびに拡張していった、豪華不二子マンション。最上階はなんとネーチャー・ガーデンです。Fujuko’s Luxury Mansion that expanded every time she escaped. Three stories with the nature garden on the top floor.)
Another one? Yes, after about ten days of mourning, we got a new hamster at a pet shop. As pretty as Fujiko, she is already taking her place as successor. I look forward to finding out what kind of personality she has. I hope to introduce her to you soon. (^o^)/]]>雪、雪、雪 Snow, snow, snowhttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15534874/2011-02-19T17:40:45+09:002011-02-19T17:40:42+09:002011-02-19T17:40:42+09:00danceofdragon未分類これは、去年のサンクスギビングの休みを利用して、カルヴァラス・ビッグ・ツリー州立公園に行った時の画像です。雪遊びの予定では全くなかったのですが、例年より早い大雪のニュースに、大慌てでスキーウェアを引っ張りだして出かけていきました。ビッグ・ツリー州立公園はその名の通り、ジャイアント・セコイアと呼ばれる、高さ100m、直径10m級の巨木が立ち並んでいるところで、桁外れの大きさは圧巻です。中には樹齢2000年の木もあるそうな。
These pictures were taken when we went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park during the Thanksgiving break last year. We hadn’t expected to play in the snow at all. News of a big snow storm coming earlier than usual to the area urged me to take out our skiwear at the last minute just before leaving home. The park, as the name suggests, encompasses huge trees called the Giant Sequoia. Some can be as tall as 325 feet with a diameter of 33 feet. Some trees are even 2000 years old. The sight of these whopping giant trees standing side by side is just overwhelming.
While Casey, dragon and my mother-in-law strolled along the snow-covered trails, princess and I waited in a small hut beside a huge fire place. In the hut, visitors kept coming in after a long walk and they were welcomed and served with hot apple cider or cocoa. Most of them were more or less wet, and with some heavy breathing but they were of no comparison to dragon. When he came in, I could not believe my eyes. He was the only one who looked like he walked in a storm, soaking wet from head to toe. Water was dripping from his hair. His boots were filled with snow. According to Casey, dragon was so overjoyed that he rolled all over the snow. He did not even see the magnificent sights. (^ ^;)
This is the same state park where after Christmas, the three of us went back again while princess stayed with my sister-in-law in Stockton. Watching dragon roll all over in the snow with my own eyes, now I knew for sure why he had gotten so wet the last time. We will have to wait until the snow has melted to fully enjoy the view of the big trees. Although we missed princess, it was a bit of relief that we didn’t have to worry about the wheelchair. My sister-in-law said she was good and quiet all day. I hope it will be OK if we occasionally go out without our princess.
These pictures are from the skii/snowboarding trips that dragon had looked forward for a long time. This year, he has been equipped with his own snowboard gear!! He got bindings and boots from Santa for Christmas and a snowboard from us as an early birthday gift. Everything was perfectly set! “All he has to do now is get better at snowboarding!” I somehow found myself getting excited.
Since the beginning of the year, Casey and dragon have gone to the ski resort twice. Wasting no time, they kept skiing/snowboarding without a break from when the lift opened until it closed. Money well spent. While they were gone, princess and I stayed with my sister-in-law in Stockton. We enjoyed chatting and window shopping. The other times, when we stayed home in San Jose. I was very anxious to hear that dragon had gotten much better. However, what I heard from dragon was, “I want to try skiing.”...... Can anybody help me!!!!!???(- -;)]]>可愛すぎる! Too Cute!!http://dradance.exblog.jp/15448537/2011-02-04T14:14:00+09:002011-02-06T11:02:05+09:002011-02-04T14:14:39+09:00danceofdragon未分類去年の秋、ふらりと行ったアートフェスティバル。特に面白いものはないな〜と思っていたら、カラフルなブースが目について、ついつい引き寄せられました。テントのブースの壁一面に飾られているのが、小さな人形達。プリンセスや動物やお花などがあって、「かわいい〜!!」よく見るとヘアピンになっていて、なんと全てリボンでできているではありませんか!いろいろな幅の色とりどりのリボンを使って、見事に仕上げてあって感動ものです。
On an autumn day last year, we strolled into a local art festival. I was thinking there was nothing exciting to see until a colorful booth caught my eyes. The next moment, I was there, fascinated with the small dolls displayed all over the wall of the booth. Princesses, animals, flowers, etc. "So cute!!!" I was so amazed to find that they were actually hair clips made of ribbon. They were made with ribbon pieces of different colors and different widths, they were so beautifully and finely done.
I asked the person at the booth if she had a permanent shop somewhere or an online store. The answer was no. She said she had her hands full raising her kids. When and where she would have the booth again was unknown. Now was the only chance to get them! She was offering a "buy three and get one free" deal. After taking so much time, I finally picked four. "Yay!! I got them. I got them!!"
"But wait. What am I going to do with them?" My dancing princess hates wearing hair clips. She was too grown up anyway. "Are there any young girls around me? Oh, there is one! M-chan, maido-san's daughter!!" We were going to see them the following day and I gave one to her. "Looking good!!" However, the trouble was that M-chan couldn't see it. (^ ^;). Later, maido-san put it on a bag so that M-chan could enjoy seeing it.
"Well, who else?" The face of a little girl came up in my mind, one of the relatives I met in Goto Islands last summer. Then, I immediately remembered the daughter of one of my friends in Tokyo. Hence, two clips took off on a journey over the ocean. And the last one...? It's still here. Let's see who will get it.(^o^)/]]>最新クロスステッチ The Latest Cross Stitch Projecthttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15376320/2011-01-22T17:06:40+09:002011-01-22T17:06:36+09:002011-01-22T17:06:36+09:00danceofdragon未分類これは、Masakoさんがヨーロッパ旅行に行った時、おみやげに買ってきてくれたクロスステッチ・キットを仕上げたものです。実はもらったのはおととしの夏、1年以上経ってやっと順番が回ってきました。紫の濃淡がなんとも言えません。仕上がったものの、思うようにフレームが見つからず、黒枠のフレームを自分で紫に塗ってみました。「Masakoさん、やっとできたよ〜」 他にももらったクロスステッチ・キットがたくさんあります。次に完成するのはどれで、一体いつになるでしょうね。
This cross stitch piece was made from a kit Masako-san brought me as a souvenir of her trip to Europe. It was back in the summer of 2009 when she gave it to me. More than a year later, I finally started working on it. I like the different shades of purple. When the stitching part was over, it was hard to find a matching frame so I painted a black frame purple all by myself. "Masako-san, I finally did it!!" I still have a lot of kits that have been given to me. I don't know which one will be finished next or when...]]>サンフランシスコの街並み Streetscape in San Franciscohttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15340353/2011-01-16T03:08:58+09:002011-01-16T03:09:01+09:002011-01-16T03:09:01+09:00danceofdragon未分類サンフランシスコは長崎と同じく、坂と階段の街、私のもう一つのお気に入りの場所です。こんな風光明媚な街から車で1時間くらいの距離に住んでいるというだけで、嬉しくなります。日帰りでよく出かけていきますが、今回初めて1泊してみました。ケーシーの大学時代からの古い友人が結婚することになり、そのウェディング・レセプションに招待されたのでいい機会です。
San Francisco, a town of slopes and steps just like Nagasaki, is another favorite place of mine. We often make a day trip there. It makes me glad that I live only one-hour away from such a beautiful city. This time, we stayed overnight for the first time. The invitation to a wedding reception gave us a good opportunity. An old friend of Casey's from college was getting married.
I felt as if we were in a dream, attending the reception of the nice couple at a gorgeous place. During dinner, however, for some reason, princess got into a panic and could not stop screaming and crying. We were immediately dragged back to reality from this fancy world and had to hurry out of the place. "After all this is what I get with princess around ......" The negative part of my emotion, usually locked up deep in my mind, started to raise its head. I could not pull myself together that night.
Next day, however, thanks to the nice weather, I began to look forward to our day in San Francisco. "How are we going to spend the day?" First, dragon and I walked up and down the zigzag slope of Lombard Street. The houses on both side of the slope actually have somebody living in them. Wondering what it is like to live in such a famous tourist spot, I panted my way up the slope.
The streetscape of San Francisco is no doubt one of its major characteristics. Narrow and tall, colorfully-painted houses with cute bay windows stand right next to each other. None of them is exactly the same and just looking at them is fun. Especially the Victorian houses along Alamo Square, called the "Painted Ladies," are pretty famous. I once visited there more than 20 years ago and had always wanted to go back. I finally made it this time. This is certainly a scene that makes me feel like cross stitching. It is interesting that these houses are also lived in by ordinary people.
Cable cars are another feature of San Francisco that I had always wanted to ride. There was a cable car museum that had huge, huge machines and wheels that were pulling underground cables. This very heart of cable car operation looked so powerful that it was worth seeing. In front of the museum, dragon and I hopped on a cable car that had come, without knowing where it was heading for and how much the ride was. This was exactly "playing it by ear." Vigorously the cable car went up the steep slope before it started going downhill. Dragon, holding on to a bar, stood on the outside area of the car. He somehow looked very serious. After a while, we came to the last station just near the coast, with the spectacular view of Alcatraz Island. Now how do we go back? We decided to walk back along the tracks. Actually, the ride was a bit expensive....(^ ^;)
Soon after we started walking, I realized I had apparently underestimated how steep the slopes were. Slopes in Nagasaki were no comparison. More panting. There was no way of living in San Francisco with princess. Anyway, it was a fun walk, taking our time, enjoying the streetscape, different from just driving by. We finally got to a coffee shop where Casey and princess were waiting, took a rest and headed home.
There were some stressful moments unique to urban areas; having a hard time finding a parking space, getting hungry but not being able to find a good restaurant. Lastly, Casey added a scratch to our van against a parked truck(^ ^;). Still we enjoyed our day in San Francisco and my exhausted legs were good evidence of the long walk. I already look forward to visiting again, wondering what kind of day the city will have in store for us the next time. I never get tired of visiting San Francisco.]]>長崎観光その3 Nagasaki Sightseeing Part 3http://dradance.exblog.jp/15274675/2011-01-04T15:39:00+09:002011-01-05T04:16:05+09:002011-01-04T15:39:18+09:00danceofdragon未分類
I am still in the middle of writing my journal about our sightseeing in Nagasaki. I can’t let 2010 go without finishing it.
It was our last day in Nagasaki. Under the gray skies, we hopped on a street car for Spectacles Bridge. However, we missed our station to get off and ended up at Suwa Jinja, one of the major shrines in Nagasaki. Even a mistake took us to something to see in this town. Anyhow, looking at the long, long way up to the shrine by steps almost made me faint. Babi, using her cane, worked her way up to the top. Throughout the town, every direction I turned, there were slopes and steps, which reminded me of my life with princess. I wondered how people in wheelchairs were living there. Dragon, fascinated with paper fortune, bought them one after another. Actually it was small mascots that came with fortunes he wanted to get.(^ ^;)
Then we strolled along Nakashima River where Spectacles Bridge is. I didn't know there were almost 20 bridges along the river. All the stone bridges we saw were very unique, favorably comparing with Spectacles Bridge. Spectacles Bridge, one of the oldest stone bridges in Japan, reminded me of the 1982 flood that partially destroyed the bridge. I was in high school and was staying with a host family at the time. Trying to get to any higher place, we evacuated and walked against the muddy stream that had risen up to my chest. I still clearly remember how strong the current was. So strong that I could have been easily swept away if my leg had slipped a little. Nearly 300 people lost their lives then. This is another harsh history of Nagasaki. However, Spectacle Bridge as we saw now stood calmly and massively, giving no hint of such a past.
Our next destination was Glover Garden, where residences of foreign traders in the late 19th century and other historical buildings were kept on a hillside. Although we had some sprinkles here and there, the view of Nagasaki Harbor was spectacular. I always wished to live in a place like this. At Glover Garden, we had a very mysterious encounter. There were several volunteer docents and one of them came up to us and offered to give us a guided tour. While talking with the man, we found out that he knew an old friend of my father's. Hard to believe such a coincidence exits.
Now we were so hungry. After filling our empty tummies with Champon noodles, Nagasaki's famous cuisine, I gave a glance at the top of Inasayama Mountain, very famous for its "Ten Million-dollar Night View." I could not believe my eyes now that we could see the mountaintop. Since we arrived in Nagasaki, the top of the mountain had always been covered with fog. I almost gave up going up there this time. "If we go now, we still can make it to the plane!!" Next moment we jumped in a taxi and headed for the ropeway station. Stunning views of Nagasaki Town in the east and the ocean in the west awaited us there. Although it wasn't clear enough to give us an overlook at Goto Islands, the last minute blue sky was pretty much satisfying and refreshing.
Early evening, we took off from Nagasaki Airport where I frequently flew in and out when I was in college. This visit to Goto Islands and Nagasaki turned out to be a very memorable one; visiting places with lots of memories with my mother and son. I feel so good now that I've finally finished writing about it. Oops, new year has already come. I don't know how often I will be able to update this blog but I hope for your occasional visits every once in a while!! (^o^)/]]>クリスマス前夜 The Night Before Christmashttp://dradance.exblog.jp/15218166/2010-12-25T11:33:37+09:002010-12-25T11:33:39+09:002010-12-25T11:33:39+09:00danceofdragon未分類日本はもうサンタさんが来ましたね。カリフォルニアにはこれから、ドラゴン、気合いを入れて(?)寝入ることでしょう。
I suppose Japan has been visited by Santa now. He hasn’t come to California yet. I’m sure dragon will go to bed vigorously (?) tonight.
Somehow I’m spending a very relaxed Christmas Eve. Oh, yes. My husband is in the kitchen now, vigorously working on our dinner. I hope everyday is Christmas Eve.
This pop-up book was given to us by chiezo-san several years ago. It is amazingly well done. There hasn’t been a time I don’t get mesmerized when I open the book. I wanted to share some of the pages with you. Merry Christmas!!
]]>読書の冬? Winter, Best Season for Reading?http://dradance.exblog.jp/15200012/2010-12-22T09:09:00+09:002010-12-22T09:20:10+09:002010-12-22T09:09:37+09:00danceofdragon未分類「うちの子、本ばかり読んで困るのよ。少しは遊んでくれないかしらねぇ。」
"All my child does is read. I wish he would play even a little."
This is something I never have to worry about. However, things are a bit different these days.
Out of regret that I didn't read much when I was a child, I, of course, hope that dragon will read as many books as possible. I tried all possible means to get him into reading, much of which vainly failed. However, there is one thing that has been going on for about a year; dragon-mommy reading time, a fifteen-minute reading together eachday. First, dragon and I took turns reading aloud one chapter of a book.
What I picked first was a series for young readers called "Five Ancestors" by Jeff Stone. It is a story about Kung Fu masters who save the 17th-century China from a bad guy. Each one has his/her own animal Kung Fu style; tiger, monkey, crane, snake, eagle and dragon. The story is full of Kung Fu action, exactly the same styles as dragon is learning and the characters are about his age. My expectation was obvious.
There are seven volumes (only six of them are in the picture). We got off to a very slow start. I think it took more than a month to finish one book. However, as we were on the fourth book, something unbelievable happened. One day, dragon could not wait to find out what happens next and started reading on his own (silently, of course). The last three books were read all at once solely by dragon. He even got emotionally involved and had teary eyes once.
"If a story is interesting enough, the rest follows voluntarily."
Since then, there have always been two books; one that dragon silently reads by himself and the other that I read to him aloud. I wondered if we would ever encounter a book like "Five Ancestors" that would get him into reading so much. Luckily there was another series, "Percy Jackson & the Olympians," featuring adventures of the children born between human and gods in Greek mythology. My mother-in-law (Grandma) gave him the first three volumes of the series. Dragon started reading it on his own, again rather slowly. Now, his pace is very fast. Good! When I realized he was already on the third book, I hastily made reservations for the last two volumes at the library. They barely made it (^ ^;). I hope he keeps up and starts reading avariety of books.
Although the dragon-mommy reading time is temporarily stopped now due to hectic days toward the end of the year, it gives me a great opportunity to learn English. Dragon also makes corrections of my strange pronunciation and accent. After all these years of studying English, I'm painfully realizing now how bad my speaking is. The next challenge will be "White Fang" by Jack London, an author of highly sophisticated writing. I'm sure it won't be easy for me but will give it a try!
Oh, do not let me forget to mention "Futatsu no Sokoku (Two Homelands)" that I'm reading in bed. It is again by Toyoko Yamasaki and about Japanese-Americans whose minds waver between two countries during the World War II. This is so much well worth reading. Thank you, Virgo-san, for letting me know about this book!!
]]>不二子はどこだ? Where is Fujiko?http://dradance.exblog.jp/15195720/2010-12-21T15:14:00+09:002010-12-21T15:15:36+09:002010-12-21T15:14:02+09:00danceofdragon未分類オーナメントになった不二子ちゃんです。
Here is Fujiko who is an ornament.]]>https://www.excite.co.jp/https://www.exblog.jp/https://ssl2.excite.co.jp/