the wind blew through me

Wow! What a weekend! We celebrated Earth Day here in our town all last week and especially this weekend. On Saturday the International Red Cross sponsored a 5K race. It was rainy, kind of a fine misty rain, but it was humid and warm – not unpleasant to run in, really. When I looked out my window that morning, though, I was sorely tempted not to go. But, how could I pass up the chance to run AND support an international charity AND commemorate Earth Day all in one shot? All in all, it was fun; everyone was in good humor in spite of the drizzle. My daughter volunteered to pass out water and fruit to the runners – it was nice to have her cheering me on. I didn’t come close to winning (I never do – I am SLOW), but I took a full minute off my time in the Valentine’s Day 5K. It was a personal best.

I spent the rest of Saturday, which cleared up after noon, and Sunday doing yard work and helping to clean up the community. I mowed, trimmed, weeded, edged, raked, and swept all over my yard and several adjacent common areas. I am in the process of filling my flowerboxes. I love Black-eyed Susan’s; and I want to put in some rosemary, lavender, lemon grass, chives, basil and mint. I enjoy yard work. I like the feel of dirt on my hands; I love the smell of greenery. Yard work gets me outside where I can hear the wind in the leaves of the trees. My grandmother used to say when you were feeling sick or down that you needed to get outside and let the wind blow through you. There’s something to that. All of the sunshine, fresh air and honest labor leaves you deliciously tired. I lay right down in my now immaculate yard, in the grass, patches of sunlight moving lazily as the breeze kissed the trees. I could have taken a nap right there, but I had to make a dessert as I was invited over to a friend’s.

I made a S’more pie. I got the recipe from some magazine. It is really cool (literally and in a more figurative sense). There is a graham cracker crust, a layer of chocolate genache, chocolate ice cream, and marshmallows on top – then you put it in the broiler. Our Japanese friends were startled that the top was hot and sticky and the inside frozen. My friend had made Chili and cornbread, too, so it was a night of firsts for our Japanese friends. Naturally, in the course of the evening they learned some new English words like “dude” (which my daughter seems to say every other word) and “dementia,” and I learned some new Japanese words like “nandedaro” (synchronized exercising) and “o-choka-choi” (a tomboy or headstrong girl). It was good fun.

As I was walking home it struck me that I live in Japan. I have become so accustomed to it, that I don’t much think about it anymore. It is just home now. This is my neighborhood with its train station and shrine. I live here with my daughter and husband. This little house is our house filled with all of the mementos of our life. It could be anywhere in the world, but right now it is in Japan, and I love it.

Happy Earth Day! We only have one planet – let’s take care of it. 🙂