Here is a view from the top of the ropeway station at Miyajima--we had a beautiful day--and good company, as you can see below. Akito and Marie, Ed and Jenni Schwartz, and Mark and Bev Bahr and we went by bullet train to Hiroshima for one night. It was a blessed time--I got a good share of American humor--miss that sometimes!
On other happenings, we attended a wedding of a friend of Akihiro's from middle school. It was a chapel style wedding which is getting to be more popular here in Japan recently. I was slightly shocked to see that the person marrying them was American. He did some of the very short service in English and read some stilted Japanese for their vows. Well, they got married, anyway. The harp music was gorgeous, but it seemed quite interesting to be singing the "Christian Home" at a non Christian's wedding. After the wedding there was quite a reception with lots of speakers. The bride changed her clothes--a different ballroom style gown. I guess this is normal--sometimes they might even change clothes twice! Nevertheless, it didn't make me dissatisfied with my own simple wedding.
Tomoki continues to speak an interesting combination of Japanese and English. This week he overheard Akihiro ask me (in Japanese) when I was going to cut his hair. Tomoki said "hair cut" to me in English. It is amazing to see his little brain process these languages. (Speaking of hair cuts, I gave Tomoki one and somehow he looks a lot like my dear departed Dad!) Of course, we think he is terrible smart! :) He loves doing puzzles recently--his favorite being the power shovel one, which he has done so many times that now he can do it on his own.
I finally got my fall/winter garden planted...daikon, turnips, spinach, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, bok choy, and red radishes. I hope it does ok as I am kinda late getting it planted.
