Saya-chan is always in the middle of fun of creativity of life wherever she is. She sometimes sends me so fantastick emails like this. Thank you.
“The real one came to see the fake seagull! I flapped my hands and pretended to cry (like a seagull), and then a big, big, real seagull came from the distant sky! Oh No! such so cold the sea in Iceland is!”
東京・国立市の桜並木。 Mちゃんから: Cherry blossom trees in Kunitachi, Tokyo. From M-chanN.Sさん宅の裏庭の見事な木蓮:A beautiful magnolia in the backyard of N.S.’s houseアナの17年ぶりのニューヨーク訪問;Anna’s first visit to New York in 17 yearsリバーサイド公園のチューリップは花盛り:The tulips at Riverside Park are in full bloomニュージャージーは向こう側。イースターサンディの日向ぼっこ:New Jersey is on the other side. Basking in the sun on Easter Sundayジェイのアレンジ、カリンバのトルコ行進曲:J’s Arrangement, Turkish March for Kalimba
Due to the recent rain, the temperature always up and down, and a busy personal schedule, I have been putting off filming a video of Harlem. Fortunately, the rain has stopped, so I started by taking a walk. I like the area from 103rd to 116th Street. It’s at the northernmost end of Central Park, close to interesting churches and the Upper West Side, and there are many art museums nearby.
A long time ago, my father was an anarchist and a jazz fanatic. He had zero social skills, and started a bicycle shop and often listened to jazz with a cigarette in his mouth. “Harlem Nocturne” from the radio, at that moment, did little me remember a past life? I had to go back to Harlem.
越冬した枯れ葉が、遠目に天使が翻っているようだった:The dead leaves that had survived the winter looked like angels fluttering in the air in the distance.モーニングサイド公園、ここで皆でイベントをした:Morningside Park, where we held our event.カセドラル教会:The Cathed Church of St.John the Divine125丁目の楽しいミュージックギグ:Fun Music Gig on 125th Street
Trudy called Shio-san, Yuma-san, and I to do performance at a Palestine support event. We had to come up with a concept in a few days. As for me, including an improvisation with Scottie about the sadness of a mother who lost her child in a bombing. “Soap Bubbles” was the only choice.
I suddenly remembered a story about a friend who lives in France who played this song on the harmonica at a nearby farm and the calves caught the melody, running over and listening intently. The calves are, of course, sold for beef. Perhaps their brief life on the farm, and the sad melody of my friend’s “Bubbles,” resonate in the hearts of the calves.
The lyricist Noguchi Ujo’s sadness at losing his child at a young age and the transience of life overlap with the fleeting joy that fades away.
**For me, this song “Shabon-dama/soap babble” represents the various sad realities of today, such as natural disasters, man-made disasters, and more broadly, children caught up in war who died before they could live out their lives. So, I did if I can express that, even a little.
A vivid dream I had recently: Orin and I, we both missed the bus, so we split up to find the next bus time and departure point. I was in a building that looked like a bus terminal. A woman guide told me to hurry up because the next bus would be leaving soon. I knew I had to tell Orin, but even if we missed it again, we could probably get home by train (?)instead of take a bus, so I was a little relaxed. I tried calling Orin on my cell phone, but instead of getting through, the word “chat” was just hanging up on the cell phone screen, which had been displayed since Monday to continue forever. Like this; chat chat chat ~~chat with Orin…
After I woke up, I tried to interpret it in my own way: That’s right! Orin and I have been chatting forever. I thought. Thank you (tears…).
Live from the “Plant Room” @ Matt & Liz’s houseマットとリズの家に飾られているオリンの絵。恒例のミュージックイベントに、オリンも堪能したんじゃないかな:A painting of Orin hanging in Matt and Liz’s house. I guess Orin enjoyed the annual music event.
This is one of my top 10 dreams; I was at an unfamiliar train station with my big sister, she was carrying her little son. She urged me to look at the full moon above. “What?” I looked up again, OMG! It was not the full moon, it was the Earth.
It was late September 2004, shortly after my big sister passed away. I was walking through Fort Tryon Park at night, crying. I felt I had to look at the full moon to my right, and what do you think? I clearly witnessed an oval shape, people call it a “cigar-shaped UFO/UAP”, that exactly the same length and diameter as the moon, that seemed to be stuck to its surface.
I wonder if my big sister really had existed? (even though she was a very practical and real person…)
ケビン達のミュージックギグ、圧巻!サウンドバイブに言霊が乗り、ひたすらアタシ達を解放する:Kevin and his fellows’ music gig was amazing! The sound vibes were filled with words of spirit, and they just liberated us.
By counting, there were 27 nameplates of musicians embedded on the street, including James Brown, who thrilled the audience, a string of jazz musicians, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Michael Jackson more.
It’s Harlem after all, but it’s Harlem at all/anyway. Over half a century has passed since I swore I’d definitely live there, but for now, this is everything and just good timing. The perpetually bitterly cold weather limits my ability to take walks, but I’m not far off, so I’ll be taking videos of the Harlem area and playing the kalimba to my heart’s content in the park.
面白いのは、道ゆく人がネームプレートを踏まない様、ケアフルに通り過ぎていること:What’s interesting is that people passing by are careful not to step on the nameplate.my favorite top 3!!
It’s been exactly two years since Orin-chan passed away. At last! I find myself overwhelmed with emotion at having come this far. I jumped into the depths of the abyss… then, slowly I’ve given up any hope and then since I swore not to follow delusions, but only acceptance. Perhaps I’ve received all the blessings and support I could ever ask for? I’m so grateful.
I really felt the deep love that my sisters-in-law, Tina and Greta, have for their brother Orin. Thank you so much for your wonderful messages. And the kindness of B, J, Y-chan, and M-san brings me to tears.
I moved to Harlem, which was my desire. It’s my “spring board” where I can give 100% to gardening, kalimba, writing, and all my activities. And I’ll have flown ahead in a few years. I’m grateful for this flow. I’m just grateful for everything.
オリンの初期の絵画と2周忌記念撮影。無題だけど、アタシは『第3の目』って呼んでいる。実は、この写真は引越し前に撮ったの。:An early painting of Orin and a photo taken on the second anniversary of his death. It’s untitled, but I call it “The Third Eye.” Actually, I took this photo before I moved.
ハーレムに落ち着いたオリンちゃん。今後ともよろしく〜。:Orin has settled into the harlem. I look forward to working with you in the future.