Day 2 - Cherry Blossoms

Of course, one of the primary reasons Hannah and I came to Japan in springtime was to see the cherry blossoms, and they did not disappoint. We spent several hours today in the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Today is the Spring Equinox — a national holiday — so families off work and school filled the garden, picnicking under the trees and enjoying the coming of warmer weather. Toddlers were running around, chasing bubbles. Girls were dressed in kimonos and fancy Harujuku doll outfits. Couples walked hand-in-hand. And we were there,too, with our own little picnic (see later post on our food adventures today), among the gorgeous blossoms in various shades of pink and white.

All I can add is that I feel incredibly blessed to be here to witness this natural beauty among the friendly, polite and warm people of Tokyo. I feel so, so happy today.

Day 2 - Meiji Jingu Shrine

This day has been a dream-come-true and it’s only mid-afternoon. I’ll try to give you a flavor of the beauty of Tokyo in several short posts.

Having woken early because of the time change, we started our day shortly after 7 AM at a GIGANTIC breakfast buffet at the hotel. So many kinds of eggs, pastries, fruit, salads, porridge, seafood, seaweed, rice, I literally can’t even name everything. Certainly couldn’t even try it all… but felt like eating like royalty.

Got outside early to mixed sun and clouds and, guided by Hannah and her cell phone, walked through the Shinjuku and Yoyogi neighborhoods to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, a Shinto shrine built to honor the late Emporer Meiji and the Empress Shoken. We entered through a forest of 100,000 trees donated and planed by volunteers in their honor in 1920.

Once inside the main shrine area, we were so fortunate to see a bride and groom and their wedding party.

Then, a procession of Shinto priests — the most senior in black, the novices in turquoise and white, as they bowed in prayer and then walked in silence through the shrine.

We pray that people

Be just unassuming

Like the bamboo

Which grows without pretension

Or unsightly gnarls.

— Empress Shoken

LAX to Narita on zero sleep - Day 1

It’s 11 PM Monday here in Tokyo, and I’m pretty sure I should get some sleep, but it’s been such an exciting I-have-no-idea how many hours that all I can do is try to make sense of it all, which honestly I can’t yet. Anyway, here are some pix from Day 1.

Baggage check at LAX. 

We enjoyed our wait in the Singapore Airlines lounge, where we toasted to Japan 2023!

Here I am in my airplane bed. No sleep. A movie. Several hours of TV. Two podcasts. Yoga Nidra. Two meals. Snacks. Stretching. Conversation. Photos. Lots of goofing around. (Pa, the seats were 1-2-1… tons of space per person, as you can see.)

After going through vaccination check and customs, we met this very nice lady from the travel agency, who helped us get situated and into a very fancy car for the 80-minute ride from Narita Airport to Tokyo.

Once we checked into our hotel, we walked a few blocks to pick up our Wi-Fi, then stopped into a bar for a drink, some food and a listen to this very good jazz singer and pianist. With an international vibe and people of all ethnicities speaking many languages, it felt like we could have been in any major international city. We’ve been practicing our Japanese, but everyone speaks English.

Finally, our first glimpse of the famous cherry trees. Hoping to see lots more tomorrow. Konbanwa.

LAX - Day 0

It’s finally happening! On the sunniest day thus far of 2023, John drove me up to LAX to meet Hannah.

She made it here safely, and we enjoyed a bite at True Food in El Segundo before checking into our hotel at the airport for tomorrow’s flight to Narita. It was really fortunate that we gave ourselves lots of time today, as Hannah had to replace her suitcase, which was broken by the airline on her flight from Chicago. 

Also fortunate that packing cubes (thanks, Angela!) made the transfer easy.

Once in our hotel room, we reviewed the menu for the flight tomorrow (business class!) and looked over our printed “travel Bible” which has all our reservations in the event that phones don’t work. Seriously, after waiting for YEARS to go on this trip, we are SO over-prepared. Tomorrow: Wheels up!

Countdown to Japan

After waiting 3 years because of Covid, my March-April 2020 2023 Japan adventure is only weeks away! Hannah and I have secured all our plane tickets, reservations and accommodations. I've bought a new suitcase and backpack and other less essential travel items in preparation. So far, it seems like the cherry blossoms are right on schedule for our arrival!

New Year with Old Friends

As Leo would say, "Oh, my..." has this year started off with a bevy of blessings in the form of visitations with old friends. Together we laughed, we remembered, we mourned, we cherished our time together, then and now.

Johamy, Matt and Bear spent a night en route from San Diego back to their home in Seattle. 

We love each other like sisters.

Patti and Ziggy drove from Colorado Springs to see her new grandbaby in LA. She tore herself away from the family for a few days in Laguna. We hiked when the sun shone and worked on a collaborative art piece when it rained.

And ever the agent, Patti introduced me to Nzinga Moore, an actor in Costa Mesa who will appear in the next Bare Bones playreading. Patti has such amazing energy. She's a joy to have around.

After Patti left, we drove up to snowy Idyllwild, where Ava, Jason and Miss Pickles came up the hill for a few days. Honestly, we did more than just lay around by the fire, but we laid around by the fire a lot, too.

Ava looked seasonal while working on her laptop.

And Jason treated us all to his famous shakshuka for brunch.

To end the month, we drove from Idyllwild to La Jolla to tour the old neighborhood and meet up with longtime friends Leo and Helen, who haven't aged a bit in the years we've been gone from Birdrock.

Helen still adores Buddy and Arwin, her 14-year-old cats, still plays tennis and still cares for a beautiful garden in the house she's lived her entire life.

Leo still has a great laugh and an enduring positive attitude about life.

(And Bahia Don Bravo is still serving burritos.)

Leo and Helen at the oceanside park that Helen's mother made.

Finally, we visited with our favorite next-door-neighbor Kristen Luther with her beau, Carlos. If you look carefully, you can see Maile, Jake and Noah as little kids on Kristen's old sweatshirt.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !

and gie's a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,

for auld lang syne.

Birthday in Tecate

If we have an occasion to celebrate and some $ in our pocket, we love returning to Rancho La Puerta in Mexico for a tune-up to our wellness routine. Morning hikes, stretching, yoga, massage, pickleball and other sports plus super healthy food and inspiring vistas on sacred native grounds all combine for real rest and recharge.

This is the outdoor dining space for breakfast and lunch.

Morning hikes begin before sunrise.

John turned 66 on the hike up to "Alex's oak."

Above the clouds...

... feels like heaven.

A snowy egret on a rock by a tree.

We were fortunate to be in Mexico for La Posada, a re-creation of the Christmas journey from door to door (la puerta a la puerta) in which Joseph and the pregnant Mary seek a place of refuge for the night. 

La posada means "shelter" in Spanish.

People walk the journey and sing in a call-and-response fashion, asking for refuge and being turned away twice before they are welcomed by a stranger. They celebrate with banuelos, churros and sweet treats, including a pinata for the children.

La Tuna, musicians from the University of Baja, joined the festivities.

Feliz Navidad!

Thanksgiving at home

Our home overflowed with friends, family, gratitude, generosity and love this week as we hosted Regina, Ben & Russell, Howie & Barby and seven Osmanis for Thanksgiving. So much delicious food. So many good feels. Great way to kick off the winter holiday season!