"At least I'm not as sad as I used to be..."
To pick up from yesterday...
The days after my trip to Osaka-ko are somewhat a blur. I tried my very best to not go have adventures, to not go do things so that my leg would recover, but I find in nearly impossible to stay inside all day and not go exploring. There was one particular event that was pretty amazing, which was the night that we (Emily, Stef, Phil, Bianca, and myself) went to shabu-shabu (mentioned in my very first Kyoto trip), followed by Mister Donuts and then Emily and I taking Stefanie and Phil to the Yodogawa. We ate shabu-shabu until we could barely move (since it's 食べ放題, or "all you can eat"), and Mister Donuts is always a treat, but the true fun was at the Yodogawa. Emily and I each bought three beers; I bought two large Kirin winter seasonals and s small Kirin Green Label. Emily and I were like caretakers, proudly showing off our spot to outsiders that have been "deemed worthy" to share in it. We make such a good team in so many ways - every time I would get lost in the path at the Yodogawa, she would know where to go, and when she would be uncertain about where to turn, I would recognize where to then go (it was nighttime, so it was dark and hard to discern where we were sometimes, having only been there during the day). And as the alcohol flowed, so did the conversation. We talked about movies, philosophy, Existentialism and Buddhism - once again, Emily and I paired up to explain the tenants of Existentialism to Stef and Phil, and we had such a great conversation about the self, experiences, what can and cannot be perceived, and objective truth and reality.
By the time we finished all our beers and were ready to go, I was actually pretty tipsy. On the way back Emily asked a question, I responded (I don't remember what it was exactly), and she said, "No...I think it's [the same thing I said]," to which I responded indignantly, "That's what I said!" And for some reason that struck us as funny, and one of us (I think it was me) said, "We're like an old married couple! xD" which sent us into more gales of semi-drunken laughter and mock quarreling. The memory is hard to write down and explain how it's funny, but it's amusing to me when I remember it, which is why I'm writing it down :)
The trip back, however, was not so much fun. We parted ways with Emily at the train station, and then proceeded to head back. I said something in regards to Emily, and Stefanie suddenly asked me, "So, are you interested in Emily?" ...I paused, and began with a trailing, "It's..." to which she added "ちょっとむずかしいですか？" ("a little difficult [to explain]?")...followed by a ”はい" (yes) from me. I thoroughly understand the situation I'm in, and Stef made the point that she loves and is kind of envious of the really close friendship Emily and I have, to which I agreed - I love my friendship with her very, very much. But at the same time, it can be difficult being around someone you are absolutely enamored with, know that the situation demands detachment, and yet remain detached and self-disciplined. I think I'm doing well, but sometimes I know I care a bit too much about her. At which point I forcefully try and detach. We stopped talking about it when we reached the hill that went back up, because the pain in my leg started getting pretty intense at that point.
Up the hills, through the streets, we walked back to the Seminar House from Hirakatashi. As time went on,the pain got worse and worse until I could barely walk. I got so close, but finally had to stop at the small Buddhist park in the neighborhood near the Seminar House. We rested and talked for a bit, and then I made the final push and finally arrived back home.
Other days, other experiences, they pass me by now. I really tried hard throughout the week to not walk or go places, but often I ended up going here or there and everywhere, and ending up in pain by the end of the day. This last weekend, I went nowhere, did next to nothing.
Have to go, continue and finish up next time!
-Daniel-
The days after my trip to Osaka-ko are somewhat a blur. I tried my very best to not go have adventures, to not go do things so that my leg would recover, but I find in nearly impossible to stay inside all day and not go exploring. There was one particular event that was pretty amazing, which was the night that we (Emily, Stef, Phil, Bianca, and myself) went to shabu-shabu (mentioned in my very first Kyoto trip), followed by Mister Donuts and then Emily and I taking Stefanie and Phil to the Yodogawa. We ate shabu-shabu until we could barely move (since it's 食べ放題, or "all you can eat"), and Mister Donuts is always a treat, but the true fun was at the Yodogawa. Emily and I each bought three beers; I bought two large Kirin winter seasonals and s small Kirin Green Label. Emily and I were like caretakers, proudly showing off our spot to outsiders that have been "deemed worthy" to share in it. We make such a good team in so many ways - every time I would get lost in the path at the Yodogawa, she would know where to go, and when she would be uncertain about where to turn, I would recognize where to then go (it was nighttime, so it was dark and hard to discern where we were sometimes, having only been there during the day). And as the alcohol flowed, so did the conversation. We talked about movies, philosophy, Existentialism and Buddhism - once again, Emily and I paired up to explain the tenants of Existentialism to Stef and Phil, and we had such a great conversation about the self, experiences, what can and cannot be perceived, and objective truth and reality.
By the time we finished all our beers and were ready to go, I was actually pretty tipsy. On the way back Emily asked a question, I responded (I don't remember what it was exactly), and she said, "No...I think it's [the same thing I said]," to which I responded indignantly, "That's what I said!" And for some reason that struck us as funny, and one of us (I think it was me) said, "We're like an old married couple! xD" which sent us into more gales of semi-drunken laughter and mock quarreling. The memory is hard to write down and explain how it's funny, but it's amusing to me when I remember it, which is why I'm writing it down :)
The trip back, however, was not so much fun. We parted ways with Emily at the train station, and then proceeded to head back. I said something in regards to Emily, and Stefanie suddenly asked me, "So, are you interested in Emily?" ...I paused, and began with a trailing, "It's..." to which she added "ちょっとむずかしいですか？" ("a little difficult [to explain]?")...followed by a ”はい" (yes) from me. I thoroughly understand the situation I'm in, and Stef made the point that she loves and is kind of envious of the really close friendship Emily and I have, to which I agreed - I love my friendship with her very, very much. But at the same time, it can be difficult being around someone you are absolutely enamored with, know that the situation demands detachment, and yet remain detached and self-disciplined. I think I'm doing well, but sometimes I know I care a bit too much about her. At which point I forcefully try and detach. We stopped talking about it when we reached the hill that went back up, because the pain in my leg started getting pretty intense at that point.
Up the hills, through the streets, we walked back to the Seminar House from Hirakatashi. As time went on,the pain got worse and worse until I could barely walk. I got so close, but finally had to stop at the small Buddhist park in the neighborhood near the Seminar House. We rested and talked for a bit, and then I made the final push and finally arrived back home.
Other days, other experiences, they pass me by now. I really tried hard throughout the week to not walk or go places, but often I ended up going here or there and everywhere, and ending up in pain by the end of the day. This last weekend, I went nowhere, did next to nothing.
Have to go, continue and finish up next time!
-Daniel-