quiet and peaceful scene

Yesterday I went on a day hike to Kinchaku-da, in Saitama-ken, with three of my friends. Kinchaku-da is very famous for its beautiful 'Cluster amaryllis' (higan-bana) . About one million higan-bana are planted there, I hear.

When I visited it the year before last, Kinchaku-da was all covered with a bright red carpet of higan-bana. Higan-bana at Kinchakuda were at their best. Kinchaku-da was so full of people that I could not enjoy those beautiful flowers as much as I wanted.

But this year, higan-bana at Kinchakuda has just started to come out. The long summer heat prevented higan-bana from coming out. There were very few people coming there yesterday.

I enjoyed a quiet and peaceful time in Kinchaku-da. After that, We visited Shodenin Temple and Koma Jinja Shrine, too. I walked 22607 steps yesterday.

(Kinchaku means a money pouch. Kinchaku-da is shaped like a money pouch, indeed.)

autumn flower

When I was walking along the 'tamagawa-josui' yesterday, I happened to see several 'Cluster amaryllis' (higan-bana) coming out. The red flowers were outstanding in the green bush.

I didn't know why, but I was deeply impressed with the beauty of the nature.

to my darling

Every year when autumn comes, I feel somewhat lonely and look at this picture taken in 1973, 32 years ago ---the last autumn we enjoyed together. My good old memories come back to me. My heart fills with happiness and loneliness.

I carried out my promise to you, darling. I didn't know how to live without you. It took a long time for me to come to the conclusion that it was my fate and I was not allowed to avoid it.

No one can avoid their fate. When I thought that way, I decided to live again. My daughter and I barely survived, always thinking of you.

Your daughter has grown up to be a nice lady. She lives a happy life with her husband and two children. I'm feeling relieved that I kept my promise to you, darling.

I am always thankful and I am always ready to go to you. I am not afraid of dying at all, because I know you are waiting for me there. Oh, do you know how much I did, do and will love you, darling?

a miracle saved her husband

Her husband was struck by brain hemorrhage and had an emergent brain surgery in April last year.　He suffered from aftereffects of the surgery and had another one in May. But he did not get better at all.

In June, 2004, she told me her husband could recognize her but not her daughters. She told me she did not know how he would be in the future.

She told me she thought it happy that her husband was alive and stayed by her. She said that she would do her best to help her husband.

She said her husband had changed so much that she didn't want others to see him. She said that her two daughters and she alone were taking care of him. He was not able to eat food at all and was given only liquid food.

The doctor said that her husband would not be able to stand up, nor walk any more. The doctor told her that he was not sure if her husband would come to talk or his memory would come back.

At the end of last December her husband left hospital and came home, though he was still not able to get up by himself, nor stand up by himself.

It is almost nine months since her husband left hospital. Today I saw her and her husband. A miracle has saved her husband! Today her husband did walk without a cane--it surprised me very much.

She said to him, "This is karin-san, my friend." To my great joy, her husband said to me, "Oh, nice to meet you. It's so kind of you to back up my wife. Thank you very much."

She told me later that her husband could answer what was asked of him but that he would forget very soon the fact that he talked. Therefore, it was impossible to keep the conversation going between them.

But I am very glad to know that he at least remembers a lot of words. I'm sure the day will come when her husband will be all right. He is young and medical science is making steady progress, especially in the field of the function of brain.

harmonica volunteer

This was my second time to play the harmonica as a volunteer. We were cordially welcomed by the aged people at a nursing home. Most of them were ladies.

They sang clearly and loudly to our harmonica. They seemed to be so happy while singing. I thought they liked 'koujou-no-tsuki' best among the songs we played. Next to it they liked 'hama-chidori.'

Perhaps they were thinking of their good old days when they had been much younger. So was I.

On my way home, I found a lot of chestnuts. Yes, we are now in autumn.