July 30th, 2006
Sounds of summer
With time in a place, then time away, you form memories and generalizations of that time. Summer means festivals, humidity, the sweat collecting on your brow and the happy cool of a game parlor or a mint towel. Here the trains run by parks, the cicada sing near constantly and a bothersome crow breaks the serenity in a tree over my head. Small blue lizards crawl the ground, and two middle aged men on the bench next to me chat emphatically over happoshu. (minamiochiai kouen)
I exit in the shade, soft shadows of fluttering maple over my storkish legs. The breeze blows cool saying, “Summer, enjoy it now for I’ll rain tomorrow.” Today would be a day for summer. Sun tea and puting out my futon, but I’ll put the navy beans in water and make a luscious soup tonight. Old may lays on his back, chewing while absentmindedly scratching his arm. All this green and grit and I can’t help but think of Paris, and how incomplete today will be not meeting you at a cafe’ or a church. It’s growing cloudy and weakening my colours. I best finish the Velvia and be on my way home.
