Happy Wednesday everyone. Today I will be reminiscing about Berry. Berry and I had a very good relationship for 6 long years. What can I say, Berry was reliable, adaptable, efficient (most of the time), strong, and safe. Here is the best shot I have with Berry.
Yes, that's right Berry was my '97 Volvo station wagon (The color is called, "Blackberry". Hence, the name "Berry". Wow I am so clever!!!!). And only recently have I pangs of regret that Berry is no longer with me. This is mainly due the horrible, tedious task I am having to undertake...moving.
It's amazing how much junk I have collected after a mere 2 years here. What's more is the process it takes to get rid of things here! For starters I have to arrange to get "daigomi" (big garbage) taken away because you cannot simply set it out with your normal garbage. Second packing up and sending all my shoes, clothes, and books back to California is getting to be a real expensive venture.
I realize that my impatience tends to make things more difficult on myself than they really need to be but let me say that good ole Berry would have come in real handy Monday when I was taking boxes over to the post office. 4 boxes, doesn't sound too bad right? WRONG! Again, I will say I made this much harder than it needed to be. However, taking 4 boxes on my little red bike to the post office was a PROCESS and a half!
First I had to bungee cord them all down so I could walk my bike the short 10 minute walk it normally takes to get there. As I was shipping books and clothes the boxes were a bit more heavy than expected, so trying to get up a slight incline on the sidewalk was almost the end of me until a good Samaritan helped me steady my bike before it went rolling backwards into the street. By the time I got there, thanks to the 90 degree heat and 70% humidity I was looking mighty sexy.
One happy camper folks!
Ok, anyways, I get the boxes shipped off and also purchase a few more big boxes to take back home. Well, as I do not have my trusty volvo sidekick to throw my boxes in, I had to figure out a way to walk my bike (I was not about to try and ride one handed while carrying 4 flat boxes with me) and carry the boxes home. As luck would have it, BOOM, flash thunderstorm. Yes, yes, yes. It was lovely. Almost as lovely as coming home to find my big stand up mirror shattered on the floor. (I think my apartment knows that I am moving away soon and is throwing a tantrum in response.)
Despite the horrible afternoon I had, all was made right in th evening when I, along with my 2 friends, elementary school principal, and teacher, attended the
Gion Matsuri (1 of the 3 largest and most famous Kyoto festivals).
My principal and teacher.
Ruth, Claire, and I.
I am really proud of my obi that I tied all by myself!
Us gals got all dolled up in our yukatas and enjoyed viewing the various floats that will be displayed during the parade tomorrow morning (7/17). I also ran into a couple of my elementary schools students and I was put into "Awwww, they are so cute" mode when I heard them say, "Ah! Toreshii sensei!!!!!! I'm fine thank you and you? It's hot!"
Isn't my student a doll?And with that all being said, I am going to go have a nap now.
