roots, where the heart is
I took Friday off to spend my weekend in Tottori. Getting off that bus at 6:20am in front of Lawson in the rain before the sun had even risen was exhilarating -- I felt home.
Two years of a place is a long time. Everything was natural, perfect, and I missed it so very much. I felt in my element, something I have in Yokohama but not yet in Tokyo.
Unfortunately my cold kept getting worse, and I lost most of my voice on Friday night. I got to see most of my friends and co-workers, ate a lot, walked around some, went to hot springs -- nothing incredibly exciting on its own, but what I needed and wanted most. Also ended up having to go to two doctors as I started to develop pink eye on Saturday morning.
I miss the people and I miss the place so very much, but I don't regret the decision to leave. (Whether Tokyo was then the answer is an entirely different issue.) I am incredibly lucky that I was a part of this, though, and all of this a part of me.
This simpler life, simpler place is really all I need.
Worthy of a separate post entirely and far more words than I can conjure are the conversations and the dreams and the goals and the troubles. My last day was on the west side with Hyekyoung, who is leaving to study in Ireland in March, and though I'd like to visit, who knows if we'll meet again?
Anyway her dreams are enormous, and she centers me so well. I bought a new planner, and she showed me hers -- a toast to this year, to filling these up to the brim not with writing but with moments with the weight to make them last.
Two years of a place is a long time. Everything was natural, perfect, and I missed it so very much. I felt in my element, something I have in Yokohama but not yet in Tokyo.
Unfortunately my cold kept getting worse, and I lost most of my voice on Friday night. I got to see most of my friends and co-workers, ate a lot, walked around some, went to hot springs -- nothing incredibly exciting on its own, but what I needed and wanted most. Also ended up having to go to two doctors as I started to develop pink eye on Saturday morning.
I miss the people and I miss the place so very much, but I don't regret the decision to leave. (Whether Tokyo was then the answer is an entirely different issue.) I am incredibly lucky that I was a part of this, though, and all of this a part of me.
This simpler life, simpler place is really all I need.
Worthy of a separate post entirely and far more words than I can conjure are the conversations and the dreams and the goals and the troubles. My last day was on the west side with Hyekyoung, who is leaving to study in Ireland in March, and though I'd like to visit, who knows if we'll meet again?
Anyway her dreams are enormous, and she centers me so well. I bought a new planner, and she showed me hers -- a toast to this year, to filling these up to the brim not with writing but with moments with the weight to make them last.