From Austin. It was on the wall of the hotel room where we stayed. Thank you Olga!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Searching for Words
"I wondered if she was trying to convey something to me, something she could not put into words - something prior to words that she could not grasp within herself and which therefore had no hope of ever turning into words. Instead, she would fiddle with her baratte, dab at the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, or look into my eyes in that meaningless way. I wanted to hold her tight when she did these things, but I would hesitate and hold back. I was afraid I might hurt her if I did that. And so the two of us kept walking the streets of Tokyo, Naoko searching for words in space."
Norwegian Woods, H. Murakami
Norwegian Woods, H. Murakami
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Torn Apart
A dialog between the man and his shadow after the Gatekeeper torn apart the man and his shadow (by H. Murakami):
----------------
I drew near the shadow. "Sorry, I must leave you for now," I said. "It was not my idea. I had no choice. Can you accept being alone for a while?"
"A while? Until when?" asked the shadow. I did not know.
"Sure you won't regret this later?" said the shadow in a hushed voice. "It's wrong, I tell you. There's something wrong with this place. People can't live without their shadows, and shadows can't live without people. Yet they're splitting us apart. I don't like it. There's something wrong here."
But it was too late. My shadow and I were already torn apart.
"Once I am settled in, I will be back for you," I said. "This is only temporary, not forever. We will be back together again."
The shadow sighed weakly, and looked up at me. The sun was bearing down on us both. Me without my shadow, my shadow without me. "That's just wishful thinking," said the shadow. "I don't like this place. We have to escape and go back to where we came from, the two of us."
"How can we return? We do not know the way back."
"Not yet, but I'll find out if it's the last thing I do. We need to meet and talk regularly. You'll come, won't you?"
I nodded and put my hand on my shadow's shoulder, then returned to the Gatekeeper. While the shadow and I were talking, the Gatekeeper had been gathering up stray rocks and flinging them away. As I approached, the Gatekeeper brushed the dust from his hands on his shirttails and threw a big arm around me. Whether this was intended as a sign of welcome or to draw
my attention to his strength, I could not be certain.
"Trust me. Your shadow is in good hands," said the Gatekeeper. "We give it three meals a day, let it out once a day for exercise. Nothing to worry about."
"Can I see him from time to time?"
"Maybe," said the Gatekeeper. "If I feel like letting you, that is."
"And what would I have to do if I wanted my shadow back?"
"I swear, you are blind. Look around," said the Gatekeeper, his arm plastered to my back.
"Nobody has a shadow in this Town, and anybody we let in never leaves. Your question is meaningless."
So it was I lost my shadow.
----------------------
The Roads
It was early in the morning, February 2014. The sun hadn’t been embraced us yet. A long way was waiting towards somewhere that we don't know, towards somewhere that we couldn't put our intentions… We were feeling as though the roads were already chosen and we were just the follower… I remember the sunrise on the road. I remember the sunlight penetrating the fogs on the empty fields and the shadows of the trees lying on them. It was a moment that the time should freeze its ticks. It was amazing… It was breathtaking…
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Cicadas
"The officer gave his order, and the bullets from the Model 38 rifles ripped through the smooth hide of a tiger, tearing at the animal's guts. The summer sky was blue, and from the surrounding trees the screams of cicadas rained down like a sudden shower."
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, H. Marukami
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, H. Marukami
Friday, May 30, 2014
The Man with the Books
While he is reading his books, you are the light in the house... And, the sorrow is the cry of the light, to be seen, but not to be realized... This is the love and this is the hate. You are on the bridge connecting these two worlds. You are on the ocean between the lands.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
A December Night
It was a December night in New York City. I was walking in the crowded streets as if I knew where to go. Unknown faces, unknown places. My steps were like the ticks of the time. Tick... tock... tick... tock... I was seeing the first fall of the snowflakes.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Rice Pudding or Macaroni Gratin?
"... Like, when something happens, whether it's a big event that affects the whole society or something small and personal, people talk about it like, "Oh, well, of course, that happened because such and such" and most of the time people agree and say, like, "Oh, sure, i see," but i just don't get it. "A is like this, so that's why B happened." I mean, that doesn't explain anything. It is like when you put instant rice pudding mix in a bowl in the microwave and push the button, and you take the cover off when it rings, and there you've got rice pudding. I mean, what happens in between the time when you push the switch and when the microwave rings? You can't tell what's going on under the cover. Maybe the instant rice pudding first turns into macaroni gratin in the darkness when nobody's looking and only then turns back into rice pudding. We think it's only natural to get rice pudding after we put rice pudding mix in the microwave and the bell rings, but to me that's just a presumption. I would be kind of relieved if, every once in a while, after you put rice pudding mix in the microwave and it rang and you opened the top, you got macaroni gratin. I suppose I'd be shocked, of course, but i don't know, i think i'd be kind of relieved too. Or at least I think I wouldn't be so upset, because that would feel, in some ways, a whole lot more real."
A nice complain from May Kasahara :)
May Kasahara's Point of View - The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, H. Marukami,
A nice complain from May Kasahara :)
May Kasahara's Point of View - The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, H. Marukami,
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Witnesses
The photos of "Ballast Point" are like the pieces from different dreams. How many times did i go there just to take a breath? Sometimes at midnight, sometimes in the morning. I was looking at the calmness of the see, the coolness of the birds, and the patience of the fishermen. I was going there to see the dock as if checking it stays there or not. ...and of course you! :) Ballast Point was always a good place to think of someone.
One day, we went to a restaurant nearby. It was a promise. We ordered more than what we can eat! Yes, you remember!.... :) After the dinner, while we were trying to find the dock, both of you were kidding with me when i was trying to describe the "dock". I was saying "bridge' instead of "dock". Then, we all start to say "bridge" :) I got the importance of being fool :)
One day, three of us met again at the same restaurant. We were meeting for my graduation. To be honest, I was not feeling good. I never liked the taste of leaving. It was not a perfect meeting. When i was going home, i saw your car. You were not going your home... You were heading to the "bridge". You remember? It was rainy. It was night.
One day, i was there at night. You approached me. You asked for the photos i took. I showed them to you. To be honest, i was hesitating to talk with you... You told me, there was a moon eclipse at the dawn and your daughter was there to take its photos. It was surprising for me... Later, i was planning to bring some cookies to you. I know fishing makes the tummy hungry! But, this stayed as only a wish.
One day, you and your son were collecting crabs on the shore for the fishes. While you were looking for fish baits, we told about Middle East and the sharks...It was the time i found a golf ball on the shore.
One day, you told me that you were there and enjoying the sunset with your daughter. You sent me a photo of the beautiful clouds... I confess I was there at that time. But, it was not a good time to see you. I said there was a florist on the corner. I left.
One day, we went there to eat some fish. It was the time that she spilled the water on the table accidentally. Do you remember? :) I always liked the way you talk about the food. It makes me smile as i have never experienced before! You talk, i will watch you, agreed? :) ...and then I realized what i really want. Not at that time, but later.
One day, we were there together. The rain was striking the surface of sea. You told me you remember the drawing of your sister... a frame with silence, a frame without the ticks of the time.
One day, i decided to leave Tampa for a place that i couldn't put my intention. At that time, I was there on the "bridge".
One day, you got a gift. It was a postcard. Actually, it was a printout from Walmart :) It was showing a scene from the Ballast Point. If you get one of these printouts, know that it was you! You were the dearest! You were there with me... and we were witnessing to the beautiful memories.
One day, we went to a restaurant nearby. It was a promise. We ordered more than what we can eat! Yes, you remember!.... :) After the dinner, while we were trying to find the dock, both of you were kidding with me when i was trying to describe the "dock". I was saying "bridge' instead of "dock". Then, we all start to say "bridge" :) I got the importance of being fool :)
One day, three of us met again at the same restaurant. We were meeting for my graduation. To be honest, I was not feeling good. I never liked the taste of leaving. It was not a perfect meeting. When i was going home, i saw your car. You were not going your home... You were heading to the "bridge". You remember? It was rainy. It was night.
One day, i was there at night. You approached me. You asked for the photos i took. I showed them to you. To be honest, i was hesitating to talk with you... You told me, there was a moon eclipse at the dawn and your daughter was there to take its photos. It was surprising for me... Later, i was planning to bring some cookies to you. I know fishing makes the tummy hungry! But, this stayed as only a wish.
One day, you and your son were collecting crabs on the shore for the fishes. While you were looking for fish baits, we told about Middle East and the sharks...It was the time i found a golf ball on the shore.
One day, you told me that you were there and enjoying the sunset with your daughter. You sent me a photo of the beautiful clouds... I confess I was there at that time. But, it was not a good time to see you. I said there was a florist on the corner. I left.
One day, we went there to eat some fish. It was the time that she spilled the water on the table accidentally. Do you remember? :) I always liked the way you talk about the food. It makes me smile as i have never experienced before! You talk, i will watch you, agreed? :) ...and then I realized what i really want. Not at that time, but later.
One day, we were there together. The rain was striking the surface of sea. You told me you remember the drawing of your sister... a frame with silence, a frame without the ticks of the time.
One day, i decided to leave Tampa for a place that i couldn't put my intention. At that time, I was there on the "bridge".
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Do not stand at my grave and weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
Mary Elizabeth Frye
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Rain and Umbrella
When the rain strikes the surface of the sea, the umbrella becomes the magic in the gray. There, the time is relieved from its continuous sorrow and we stay young forever.
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