Springing

It's warm during the day, still down to 0 degrees at night, but warm enough during the day to bring out the skirts (with tights). The heater is being put away this week and my sliding doors between the living room and tatami room are going to be pulled out, opening my house into a bigger sunny summer space.

Hanami (cherry blossom season/drinking under cherry blossom trees season) is almost here. It's a brief week or two of those famous Japanese blossoms filling their trees boughs and scattering pretty petals across the ground. The life of the flowers is a reminder of the shortness of life, and what better way to seize the day than drink our faces off under cherry blossoms?

I am turning 25 this friday which has reminded me of a list long lost of things I wanted to do before the 28th of this month of this year. While I don't think I've done most of them, I'm generally in the place I want to be. Somewhere off in the world on an adventure. And now, I hesitate to make the list of things I want to do in the next 5 years. Do I really need to list them? I make too many lists!

It's the end of the school year here, and we have 2 weeks of spring holidays before the new school year starts. It's a time of change and renewal, not only in the "jungle" outside my house but at work and in life as well. I think 2 years living in the countryside is a good time for me where I am at in life. It's quite challenging at times for someone so used to city life, but I've seen the world in a way I never have before. There are many little birds here I've never seen before. Snakes that I almost step on as they race across the road by the river. Hills so misty every morning they remind me of traditional paintings of Japan. And the sound of the river, well brook, rushing by. It's so peaceful here.

I can also hear the baseball team practising at 7am every morning from the school grounds, but that's another story.