A gift of apples from a kind person. The Fujisawa Citizens’ Festival is taking place around Fujisawa Station. Thank you for the gift of apples, Masumizu-san from the shopping district—you are always so kind to me! These apples come from a stall run by Fujisawa Town in Iwate Prefecture. (Michiko)
I bought some honey from the Yokote Beekeeping Farm in Akita Prefecture. It is precious honey, harvested while protecting the beehives from bears. It comes from Yu-san’s uncle. I had a wonderful time with Yu-san. (Michiko)
Two Michikos. I had two centimeters trimmed off the ends of my hair at the salon. I’m good friends with the owners, Kobayashi-san. I’m “Michi 1,” and the beautiful Michiko-san is “Michi 2″—nicknames I jokingly use for us at the shop. (Michiko)
It has been a rainy September. Due to my hip osteoarthritis, I try to limit walking outdoors when it rains. I’ve rearranged the table and chairs to open up more space and am actively doing indoor walking exercises. I have been diligently attending rehabilitation sessions at the orthopedic clinic every week, but the orthopedic surgeon has finally given me some stern advice: I need to undergo hip surgery while I still have the physical strength to handle it. I hear that hip surgery has advanced in recent years. I have now resolved myself to go through with the procedure sometime next year. Taking my time to prepare for that. Step 1 of the doctor’s instructions: I applied for long-term care insurance as part of the post-surgery preparations. The next step, I was told, is that once I decide to go ahead with the surgery, a referral letter will be written to the hospital where the procedure will be performed. (Michiko)
The rain has eased, and it is a cool day. I had an energizing lunch with Baba-san. A gentle, peaceful time. It felt as if I had set down an invisible burden that had accumulated over the hot summer. (Michiko)
I cherish my days by thinking of small things that bring me joy, surrounding myself with favorite little objects, and keeping unwanted intruders at bay. These small, accumulated moments create a wonderful richness of spirit. (Michiko)
We are heading toward mid-September. As the final breaths of summer’s melody fade, we are gently ushered toward the arrival of autumn. Moving toward that moment and beginning anew from there. The transitions in a musical phrase and the transitions in nature. There is no curtain in either case. Just a quiet sign. (Michiko)
I polished my violin with cleaning oil designed for string instruments. It is an instrument my parents bought for me, and I have been playing it for over fifty years, the violin itself is more than two hundred years old. Music is my invisible best friend. (Michiko)