a series of unfortunate reads

in chronological order of disappointment:

a death in the lucky holiday hotel - pin ho, wenguang huang (2013). too much gossip and too many points of view for a girl schooled in the agatha christie one-clear-villain-gets-clearly-trounced tradition

einstein's god - krista tippett (2010). so much promise and too many words 

the fraud squad - kyla zhao (2023). much excitement but much let down. lots of glittery material preoccupation, at least in the chapters i managed to internalize. possibly my preference and  fault?

die trying - lee child (1998). i start this seeing as i enjoy the first book. i stop it when i remember what i dislike about killing floor: lots of great action lost in much rumination

losers - michael lewis (1996). i forget why i gave up on this book. if i did. or did not

four thousand weeks - oliver burkeman (2021). this comes to me with superlative words of recommendation but he really has a pedantic way to say what he wants to say although he does have good things to say. but it's just too much hard work plowing through verbiage to get to the ideas

the wind in the willows - kenneth grahame (1908). childhood favorite that it is not time to revisit just yet. owing to rather too accurate portrayals of real life characters that one can recognize too easily in adulthood

zuri ❤️

gorgeous bold sharp saturated prints.

like a tent but with a good shape.

and side pockets!!!

you could call it my new delectable preoccupation.

empty nest

we'd like two children, God willing, our young selves say. and God was willing.

we'll bring them up, God willing, our young selves say. and God was kind and merciful.

they'll grow and leave and it'll be just us one day, we tell each other. and God has made them fly.

and suddenly it's the two of us again. thanks be to God for indescribable grace.

gift

the hand-cranked sewing machine makes it from malaysia to singapore to J2 lovingly encased in a styrofoam fortress and heroically transported in a car a taxi a plane an air train and another car. my mother's, as part of her trousseau, my mother tells me. to my grand-daughter now, as she weds.

new family (again!)

Ji and his family join ours. welcome!

long may we rejoice in growing friendship and fellowship.

strongly and richly may you and J2 build your home.

gladly may we worship and love.

what God has brought together, may we gently tend.

it's a good day

i've become an old man, someone says. the final verse speaks to me.

i've become an old woman too, then. 'tis been these two verses for me. my voice is poor the melody does not hold and my poor tongue lisps. one day it shall be a nobler and sweeter song but it shall tell yet of the fountain that washed my sins away.

busy day (all before 2 PM)

• buy HOM a shirt and a pair of slacks for an unexpected rehearsal dinner with Ji's parents
• buy me shoes for an unexpected rehearsal dinner with Ji's parents
• top up salad supplies from trader joe's
• endure traffic jams because of non-functioning lights
• discover the power outage extends to the hotel 
• climb to hotel room and have lunch
• discover the wifi is out too

busy busy

when a place is famed for the busyness of its pedestrian crossings it stands to reason the cafes in the area will be overflowing onto the street. and the line for the loo will double back on itself in the anteroom to the loo. we ought to have remembered that.

companions

glad we did it together: going astray and hustling back and getting hungry and finding food and coffee and skipping the same options and sharing the same priorities including onsen dips. thank you, friends.

proverbs 17:17.

small town japan*

it is surprising how much superficial resemblance there is to small town 'murrica.

*at karuizawa

nakasendo wayfarer thoughts

• a stout stick helps
• as do goretex-lined shoes

• it's important to have nothing to prove to anyone and to skip whatever you are not keen to do
• it is also important to supplement the day's hike with onsen dips ❤

• too many walking companions can confuse the issues. the old adage is true
• eating companions who share the same ideas about food and food sharing are particularly important

• japanese efficiency is inconspicuous and awesome
• walk japan is also inconspicuous and awesome

• it has been a lovely interlude but i would probably not do it again. the hike up to Torii Pass has given me PTSD