Update.

With positive news.

So much has happened this past month that I have wanted to share.  However, as stated in my post before last, in addition to everything else, I have been distracted by dental pain.  Sadly, even with my notes, about all I can recall is pain.  I do remember a few other things.  Took my 9 year old to a testing site on a Saturday in early July and picked him up afterwards.  A great many of the kids are still wearing masks.  Same with parents.  Have started to see what others have reported in other lands but I had not witnessed in great numbers until recently, unmasked parents with masked kids.  Seeing more and more of this particular flavor of madness.

Met with a friend from Taiwan.  His first trip to Japan in 4 years.  We used to meet roughly yearly for an event we both have interests in.   Covid madness could not be kept from the conversation and I fear that my take on things differences from his and I offended him.  I have not heard from him since we met a month ago.  Perhaps it was instead due to my delayed email after we met caused by my long since removed wisdom tooth getting its revenge.  Will most likely never know.

Went to a wedding at the end of July.  It was held at a nice hotel in Tokyo.  While there were some unmasked employees, all inside the “chapel” were masked.  The “priest” was wearing a mask when I spied him in an antrim but he wore a face shield during the wedding.  The chamber music musicians and the chorus all wore masks as did the ushers.  One of the photographers was unmasked.  Both of my brother’s in law arrived masked.  One took his off as soon as he arrived and did not out it back on.  I did not see his wife wearing one.  The other wore his as long and as often possible as did his wife.  Some of the servers were masked while others wore maskless.

Earlier this month I made the following observation.

Masked woman on train balances precariously between train stops as she digs in her purse.  Eventually, she discovers what she was looking for and pulls it out.  It is an alcohol infused handywipe she the wraps around the pole she has chosen to hold on to for the train ride.  The date in 2023/08/03.  Roughly half in the car I am riding are still masked.  Today’s weather: intensely sunny, 33 (C) with 63% humidity.

We were in Suwa earlier this week.  All employees at every business we entered or whose services we used were masked.

Now for some more positive news.

A couple of years ago we stumbled across an excellent French restaurant.  They serve lamb, which is our 9 year old’s favorite.  We have been back multiple times.  The chef is a young Japaneses man and his wife is the waitress.  Very friendly couple.  They have a monthly wine tasting night and we were finally able to attend.  Apparently, they do it differently from time to time.  That night we all filled out a brief questionnaire asking about the types of wine we preferred.  I was expecting to have some from several already opened bottles of wine that fit my tastes.  No.  He opened a bottle for each person’s tastes and we all shared each.  Got to sample a much broader range than I was expecting and it was great.  As the chef was also drinking with us, we got treated to some really fine wines that he has had for a number of years.  A genius, this man is.  He gets his customers to pay for wine that he normally would not get to enjoy.  Was great fun drinking with the chef and his wife and meeting the other patrons.  Having our kids with us, we had to leave early, but it was still worth it.  We are looking forward to our next chance to go.   

We have a new addition to our family.  A little over a year ago I joined our town’s cat rescue group so that I could borrow a cat trap to catch the family of cats that were living under our neighbors house until they drove them out.  I was able to save all but one.  But we already had two cates and could not keep 4 others.  Two of my wife’s then coworkers were themselves involved in cat rescue and one took the mother and the two female kittens, our son chose the one male kitten.  I rescued him from the storm sewer with my son’s butterfly net.  He was so starved and weak the vet cried from joy the second time I brought him in as she did not think he would survive.  He is now a monster, weighing in at 5 kilo.  Sadly, in December, our first cat, Foo, died at 19 years of age after fighting kidney disease for several years.  Thus, when one of my wife’s friends could not find homes for three of the 8 kittens she brought back from Yakushima, we were able to take one in.

We sent our son off to his first gashuku (camp) last week.  This was his cram school camp.  It finished the same day swim camp started.  Both were held on the other other side of the country but just a couple hours drive from each other.  So my wife and I stayed at a bed and breakfast the night before the first camp finished, picked him, had lunch together and drove him to swim camp.  Then we stayed at a very nice family run and small hotel renowned for its cuisine.  Dinner and breakfast were served in our room.  Many outside Japan may be repulsed by the main dish, but let me assure you, it was Devine; basashi.  “Sashi” as in “sashimi” which is slices of raw fish.  “Ba”, however, is horse.  So we had slices of raw horse meat.  I have had this numerous times before and have always liked it, but this was out of this world delicious.  Every dish was excellent as were both the locally brewed beer and “sake” known as Nihonshu here.  When we checked in we were informed of a new festival being held that night and of a nightly fireworks display over Suwako lake.  The festival was at a famous shrine just a short walk away.  They call the festival “Natsumode” a play on the “Hatsumode” which is the first visit to a shrine or temple for the new year.  “Natsu” is summer, so it is a summer visit to the shrine.  They had color changing lights set up to illuminate the shrine and the effect was something.  Not sure I liked it but can’t say I did not.  I am sure I would have preferred just white lights.  My wife and I were asked by a local newsman for a photo of us in front of the shrine as we were wearing Yukawa provided by our hotel.  Afterward we we briefly interviewed.  Sadly, while our interview was printed, they did not us the photo of us.  The fireworks display was distant but still impressive.  OH this reminds of another fireworks display we went to.  Later.

Besides the great accommodations, food and drink, they hotel is in the onsen area of the city.  Onsen are Japanese hot springs and one feeds the hotels public bath.  Love these in the winter but not in the summer.  I took a shower only but my wife loved the hot spring.   Another special ceremony were learned of at check in was an unusual morning ritual at the same shrine that was lit up the night before.  Everyday at 6 am, the priest offers breakfast to the god of the shrine.  All who attend the service receive a Shinto blessing.  Somehow, after little sleep and much drink, i was able to get up and attend.  Very simple, elegant.  A nice experience.  Afterwards, we returned to the hotel, enjoyed a wonderful and filling breakfast, checked out and went to several of the local sight seeing spots.  God was my copilot as I usually and very heavy eyelidded on the drive home from trips with much more sleep than I had this a time.  Not at all a problem despite a horrendously long traffic jam once we reached Tokyo.  An excellent trip.

I spent with abandon as I expect it all to go to hell soon.  Bought some of the local brew to bring home, will have the can of Stout in a moment.  Bought a small amount of locally produced Japanese incense.  Inexpensive but very nice.  Gas was EXPENSIVE.  No cash until payday, just like my time in the navy.