Inner Muses

Yuriko and I traveled to Japan as this pandemic was breaking out from February 26th and returned March 5th. Ten days ago, we completed two weeks of self-quarantine after our return, we’re doing well. None of us are sick. The State Dept warning for Japan was level 1 and moved to 2 the day before we left. It was an interesting time to visit, but I needed to complete my 2019 Japanese taxes by March 15, so the timing was set back in January. It was a bizarre experience. People thought we were crazy to go into the danger of Japan before we left. But, while we were there, our hometown of Kirkland, WA because the epicenter of COVID-19 death in the US. We felt we were going into danger returning home. We saw Seattle’s and then the US' future. Schools closed while we were there. Gatherings of people, shows, sports events, etc. closed or reduced hours.  Everyone wore masks. TP, hand cleaner, and masks were sold out due to hoarding. Still people met us for dinner and coffee. My f...

This morning we were woken at 7AM by an announcement voice. It's Sunday, March 4, 2018, and one of the few mornings I can sleep in.  What is going on? Yuriko is visiting from mid-February to the end of March. She's having a hard time making it out and there's no way I can understand that distant Japanese. We think it's an announcement about a practice fire alarm from the building intercom in the dining room. The bedroom door is closed, so it's muffled. Great, a practice fire alarm, on Sunday morning. LOL. This moment is an amazing snapshot in time and I've got to render it in words. We're living in temporary housing in Akasaka - right in the heart of Tokyo. However, time is almost up. March 15th is the day we must move out. Our brief stint in Paradise. Kinori has already left for Advance Hang-loose lacrosse practice far away. The new season for the amateur, men's league is coming up and the practices have begun. Friday night was a meeting and dri...

I have to say that Tokyo rocks.  I'm sure that many of the great things I'm experiencing are true of the major cities of the world.  Still, this the first one that I'm in, so I get to attribute it to Tokyo. I'm living in Akasaka in temporary housing for two months.  This means that my apartment is far nicer than one I can afford. It's huge and boasts a king-sized bed.  Kinori has moved into the small bedroom which is still much larger than his entire previous apartment. My commute to Microsoft Japan at Shinagawa takes just minutes. I walk right by a Starbucks as well as many convenience stores, cafes, restaurants and bars on the way. Each morning I get my grande hot drip coffee and sometimes a half sandwich and look down at the crowd flowing through Shinagawa station. Monday this week I headed off to complete essential errands.  I registered my residency with the ward office, obtained a Japanese SIM card for my iPhone and then opened a bank account. The ...