Spring Showers

I have been exceptionally busy at work; I have a project at the editors’ and four more in various stages of completion. I came home from work last night and fell asleep on the couch.

March on the Kanto plain came in like a lion with blustery winds, but now it’s showering like April and has been for several days steady. I think the gray days are contributing to my exhaustion.

Brilliant umbrella flowers bloom on the avenue as spring rains begin after a brief respite. They bob about languidly as the shower beats a steady tattoo on treated nylon. The yellow residue of blooming trees collects in the gutters and rushes down drains taking the scents of smoking fish and the yakitoria with it.

The Japanese take rain in stride. No one hurries or changes their routine for the rain. Everyone just opens their huge colorful umbrellas and keeps right on walking, or riding their bike. The umbrella I use belongs to my loved one and is black and white check with a carved wooden handle. It is big enough that when you are walking under it, your legs won’t get wet. Before he comes home, I need to buy my own. I think I want a royal blue one, or maybe one with cherry blossoms.

Whenever you go into a business with your dripping umbrella, there is either a stand, so you can leave it (no one will take it), or plastic sleeves to slip you umbrella into. This way people aren’t jostling against one another with wet umbrellas, as that would be rude. And, the floor remains relatively dry, because people wipe their feet at the door.

At least the people with allergies are getting a break. It seems that many foreigners are allergic to the sakura (cherry blossoms). Many Japanese are allergic to the cedar. After the war, Japan needed to reforest quickly or face serious erosion issues. Since this is an island, they can’t afford to lose much topsoil. After searching the world for fast rooting/growing trees with wood value and, of course, natural beauty, the Japanese decided to import cedar. Unfortunately, much of the population is allergic to it, and they been suffering stuffy noses ever since. Young people seem to be developing immunities to it; they hope that future generations will not be so bothered by cedar pollen. I personally am allergic to the loblolly pine. I am grateful to note that I haven’t seen one here. 🙂

I hope that you all have a gorgeous, sunny day where you are – with no rainstorms, sandstorms, or snowshowers!!