不思議な縁

　午後はこれから喫茶「さんぽ道」へ行き、コーヒーでリラックスして来ます。しかし、その前に、車を駐車場に置かせてもらい、広大な東の方をウォーキングしてきます。

　実は、誠に仲の良かった友Ｔが眠る寺がここから歩いて１５分ほどの栗崎にあるので暫くぶりに墓参りしてから、喫茶に戻ります。

　不思議な縁です。この喫茶のママさんは高校時代にＴに教わっているのです。更に不思議なことは、私が小学生の頃、Ｔが眠るこの寺へは私の一番上の姉が嫁いだのです。すごく昔のことです。では行って参ります。

★喫茶「さんぽ道」には行きましたが、悪天候のため、ウォーキングと墓参りは後日行くことにしました。

　This afternoon, I'm going to the "Sampo michi" coffee shop to relax with a cup of hot coffee. However, before that, I'll park my car here and go for a walk in the vast eastern area.

　Actually, the temple where my very close friend Mr. Todokoro is buried, is about a 15-minute walk from here in Kurizaki-Village, so I'll visit his grave for the first time in a while. Then I will return to the coffee shop.

　It's a strange coincidence. The owner of this coffee shop was taught by T when she was in high school. Even stranger, when I was in elementary school, my eldest sister married into this temple where T is buried. That was a very long time ago. Well, I'm off now.

★I went to the "Sampo-michi" coffee shop, but due to bad weather in Gumma prefectire, I postponed my walk and visit to the grave of Mr. T to another day.

温かな場所でチャンス到来を待つ

　廊下にずらりと並んだのは君子蘭です。今まで半年間、外で育ててましたが、この植物は寒さに弱いので１２月に入った昨日から室内の温かな所で来年４月まで過ごします。通常は３月から咲くようですが、この場所に置くと毎年１月中旬から咲き出します。一人暮らしは何かと荒涼とした佇まいですが、室内で一斉に咲き出すとパッと明るくなり、まるで念願の家族が増えたかのような錯覚に陥ります。

　調べてみると、君子蘭は遠く南アフリカが原産地で日本へは明治時代に入ったと伝えられます。実は、我が家の君子蘭は今から３０年ほど前に、隣のＴさんに１鉢戴いたのが始まりで、年々増え続け、その度ごとに鉢に植えました。Ｔさんは広い意味で、つまり組織の上では私の上司でもあったのです。しかし、数年前に天に召され、戴いた君子蘭が彼の温かな人柄を今に伝えています。

　この場所は今では珍しくなった二間続きの畳の部屋で、８人が一緒に座れる掘り炬燵があります。このため、これからの時季に来客が見えたときはこの部屋で君子蘭に囲まれ歓談できます。もうすぐ、ここで地区の人との忘年会です。どうぞ、倉賀野を通過することがありましたら、お立ち寄りください。

　いよいよ日本列島は明日から第一級の寒波襲来と予報されてます。その前に今日、私は鏑川の長い土手をウォーキングし、基礎体力を養うつもりです。

Dear my friends who are crazy about blossom of flowers and great music

　The plants lined up in the hallway are Kaffir lilies. I'd been raising them outside so far, but as this plant is sensitive to the cold, I've been bringing them indoors in a warm place since yesterday, due to December 1st, and they'll be there until April next year. Generally they start blooming in March, but when I put them in this spot, they start blooming mid-January every year. Living alone can sometimes feel a bit desolate, but when they all bloom together indoors, the place becomes suddenly brighter and I get the illusion that my long-awaited family has come.

　After researching, I found out that Kaffir lily is native to faraway South Africa as its name suggests and was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period. In fact, the Kaffir lily in my home actually started blooming about 30 years ago when I received a single pot from my neighbor, Mr. Takano. The number has continued to grow year by year, and I've repotted them each time. Mr. Takano was also my boss in a broad sense, that means he was working at the Board of Education of Gumma. However, he passed away a few years ago, therefore the Kaffir lilies I received from him still convey his warm personality to this day.

　This place is a rare two-room tatami room, complete with a big kotatsu table that can seat eight people. So, when I have guests from now on, we can chat in this room surrounded by Kaffir lilies. We'll be holding our end-of-year party with this district people here soon. When you pass through Kuragano-town, please drop by.

　A first-class cold wave is forecast to hit the Japanese archipelago from tomorrow. Before that, I'm planning to walk along the long bank of the Kabra River today to build up my basic physical strength.

　　

心の充実を目指す

　９月４日、群馬県の今日の日の出は５時１７分、正午の太陽高度は６０°、日の入りは１８時０８分です。昼の長さは１２時間５１分であり、夏至に比べると昼の長さは１時間４８分も短くなり、太陽高度も１７°低くなってます。日本列島には台風が接近しており、これが太平洋に抜ければ、次第に秋らしくなるでしょう。先ずは、台風による被害がないことを祈ります。

　日が短くなって秋が近づくと、何とはなしに心まで侘しくなるものです。ところが、私は一人暮らしでも意外に心は充実してます。その第一は「多くの緑に囲まれ」恰も森の中に住んでるかの如くだからです。毎日、自然との対話で庭いじり、剪定、水遣り、時に果物の収穫、年間を通していろいろ花が咲き、今は「ねむの花」に癒されてます。

　一方、現役時代に親しかった友人たちは自然にいなくなり、これは寂しさの極みです。それに代わり、最近は地区の方々との交流が増え、共に仕事をしたり話しをするチャンスに恵まれてます。その中でも最近は、心が広く超党派的な女性との出会いがあり、彼女と知り合いになれ本当に良かったと感じる日々です。植物も心を満たしてくれますが、人間の喜びは素晴らしい人との交流であり、これほど心を満たしてくれることはありません。

　心を満たすと言えば、高校時代にピアノを強く勧めてくれた音楽の先生には本当に感謝してますが、もう、この世にいません。お陰で今でも毎日が音楽ある生活になっています。しかし、音楽は聴き手がいてこそ成り立ちます。これが不足してます。

　

Dear my friends who are crazy about encounter with splendid human and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

........................................................

　Today on September 4th, sunrise in Gumma Prefecture was at 5:17 AM, the sun's elevation at noon will be 60°, and sunset will be at 6:08 PM. The length of daylight is 12 hours and 51 minutes, 1 hour and 48 minutes shorter than at the summer solstice, and the sun's elevation is 17° lower. The typhoon No. 15 is approaching the Japanese archipelago, and once it passes out into the Pacific Ocean, autumn will gradually begin. First, I pray that there will be no damage by the typhoon.

　As the days get shorter and autumn approaches, I can't help but feel lonely. However, even though I live alone, I find my heart surprisingly fulfilled. The first reason is that I'm surrounded by so much greenery, it's as if I'm living in the forest. Every day, I interact with nature by gardening, pruning, watering, and occasionally harvesting fruit. Various flowers bloom throughout the year, and I'm currently soothed by the "Silk tree flowers."

　On the other hand, the close friends I had during my active career have naturally passed away, and this is the most of loneliness. Instead, I've recently been interacting more with people in my district, and have been blessed with opportunities to work and talk together. Among these people, I recently met a broad-minded, supra-partisan lady, and I feel truly blessed to have gotten to know her. Plants also fill my soul, but the greatest human joy is interacting with wonderful person, and nothing fills the soul more than that.

　Speaking of things that fill my soul, I'm truly grateful to my music teacher who strongly recommended me to play the piano in high school period, but he's no longer in this world. Thanks to him, music still fills my life every day. However, music only exists when there are listeners, but, that's missing.

　

出会いによって、その後の生活が変わる

　先日、前橋の次女宅に物を届けるため家を早朝に出ましたが、約束の時間より大分早く着いてしまったため、先に、比較的近くに広がる利根川の河川敷に行きました。ご覧の通り、ここは静寂な佇まいで、たくさんの緑に覆われ、とても空気の澄んだ広々した公園です。その中を数人の若者が一人ひとり自分のペースでジョギングをしていました。早朝から頑張っている若者がいることを知りました。

　心肺能力を始め、足腰の筋肉を鍛えるには、このように樹木の多い、空気のきれいな環境でこそ運動は効果的と感じました。平素、つい忘れがちですが、私たちは、この世に誕生した瞬間以来、常に酸素を吸い二酸化炭素を排出しつつ、呼吸活動を続けてます。その後、学校生活～職場生活を通じて、いろいろ体験し、いつの間にか年を重ね、経ってみると意外と早く還暦を迎えるものです。

　この頃から、人によって体調に差が出てきます。何かと忙しい日々を送っていても、忘れてならない健康維持こそは何事にも代え難い大切な基本です。健康を維持する基本は、光合成の盛んな緑多い環境を作り、日々、新鮮でバランスの取れた食事に心掛けることでしょう。

　ところで、私はすでに10年来、毎朝必ず続けてることがあります。それは早朝の空腹時に抗酸化作用があると考えられるトマトジュースをコップ一杯飲んでます。これは偶然に目にした「ガン対策の講演会」を知り出席したところ、群馬大学医学部のガン専門医が講演会の最後に話された「一言」でした。それ以来、毎朝の習慣となり、私の一日が始まります。 

Dear my friends who are crazy about cheerful healthy life and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

.......................................................

　The other day, I left home early to deliver something to my second daughter in Maebashi-City. Since I arrived much earlier than the appointed time, So I decided to go first to the nearby Tone River riverbank. As you can see, this is a spacious park with a tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by abundant greenery and exceptionally clean air. Several young people were jogging through the park, each at their own pace. I was delighted to learn that there were young people there working hard from the early hours of the morning.

　I realized that exercise is most effective in strengthening cardiopulmonary capacity and strengthening the muscles in our legs and hips in the environment with plenty of trees and clean air like this. We tend to forget this, but from the moment we were born, we were constantly breathing, taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. From school to work at company, we experience many things and we know many things. Before we know it, we grow older. Looking back, we reach "Kanreki" the age of 60 surprisingly quickly.

　From this age, differences in physical condition begin to appear among individuals. Even in busy lives, maintaining good health is the essential and irreplaceable foundation for human. The key to maintaining good health is to create an environment with plenty of greenery where photosynthesis thrives and to make sure we should eat a fresh, balanced diet every day.

　Not change the subject, but there's something I've been continuing for the past 10 years. Early in the morning, on the empty stomach, I drink a glass of tomato juice which is thought to have antioxidant properties. This was a word spoken at the end of a lecture on cancer prevention that I happened to come across and attended, by a cancer specialist from Gumma University of Medicine. Since then, this has become my habit that I use every morning before starting my day.

音楽が元で知り合いになれる楽しさ

　愛車に乗る機会が少ないので調子維持のため、午後になって高前バイパスの車の会社に立ち寄り、新たなブリジストン・タイヤ245-35-19の乗り心地の良さなど、車検後の調子について伝えてきました。

　帰路はそのまま、柴崎町の喫茶「さんぽ道」に行き【カッキーまた行ったのかと言われそうですが】、アイス珈琲を味わいつつ、1時間ほど涼んできました。今日は数人の女性客がいました。

　その中の一人が以前に私のピアノを聴いてくださった方らしく、声を掛けてくださり話ができました。音楽が元で知り合いになれると嬉しいです。「さんぽ道」の前はご覧の通り、緑と花で落ち着きます。

Dear my friends

　As I don't seize many opportunities to drive my car, to keep it in good condition, I stopped by Audi dealer on Takamae Bypass in the afternoon. And I informed how it was the condition after the inspection, including how comfortable the new Bridgestone 245-35-19 tires were.

　On my way home, I went straight to the cafe "Sampo-michi" in Shibasaki-town [you might think, did "Kakky go again?"] and spent an hour cooling off over the iced coffee as usual. There were several lady customers today.

　One of the ladies has heard my piano playing before, she spoke to me, so we got to talking. I'm happy to make acquaintances through music. As you can see, in front of Sampo-michi, there's greenery and Crape Myrtle, which makes me feel at ease.

紫陽花のように、花開きたい

　今年ほど紫陽花をよく眺めてる私はいません。また、紫陽花には色々の色彩があることに目覚めてます。私たち人間にとって毎日が暑くて蒸してる気候ですが、紫陽花はこの温度と湿度を味方にし、どの花も上を向いて咲いてます。ピンチをチャンスと捉えてます。

　ところで、懇親会が好きな私は今後いくつかあるパーティーを楽しみにしてます。また、１０日後にはバス旅行があります。今や、どこへ行くにもマイカーや電車ですから昔のようにバスに揺られて行くのは気持ちも解れ楽しみです。バス旅行は今年2回目です。

　しかも、参加者は倉賀野上三、上四地区の顔見知りの人たちで、紫陽花のように和やかになりそうです。果たして、焼けボックイに火がつくでしょうか。「こらこらカッキー何を考えてるのか。」「純粋にバス旅行を楽しみなさい」という声が聞こえて来そうです。

　ところで、野球ではチャンスの後にピンチあり、ピンチの後にチャンスありで、人生も似ています。人生のピンチに立ったとき、その後にチャンス到来は有り得ることです。大切なことは、諦めてはならないことでしょう。逆境のときこそ、新たな場面が生じることは有り得ることです。今日も暑いので水分補給をしましょう。

Dear my friends who are crazy about life from now on and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

.............................................

　I have never looked at hydrangeas as much as I have this year. I have also noticed that hydrangeas have a variety of colors. For us humans, it is hot and humid every day, but hydrangeas take advantage of this temperature and humidity, and all of their flowers bloom with facing upwards. They see a crisis as an opportunity.

　By the way, I like social gatherings with drinking, so I am looking forward to some of the upcoming parties. Also, in 10 days I am going on a bus trip. Generally, nowadays, we go everywhere by car or train, so I am looking forward to being rocked on a bus like in the old days. This is my second bus trip this year.

　What's more, the participants are familiar faces from the Kami-3rd and Kami-4th districts of Kuragano-town, so it will be as peaceful as the hydrangeas. There is also a fantastic lady who used to live near my house, and I think I will be able to talk to her after a long interval. In fact, she is in the same environment now as me. I wonder if the dying embers of our former passion will blaze anew between us. I can almost hear your saying, "Hey, Kakky, what are you thinking?" "Just enjoy the bus trip."

　By the way, in baseball, after opportunities there are crises, and after crises there are opportunities, and it's similar in life. When we find ourselves in a crisis in life, it's possible that an opportunity will arise afterwards. The important thing is to never give up. When in times of adversity, new opportunities can arise. It's hot again today, so make sure you need hydration.

　

八重桜の下で、春の宵を満喫したい

　今日の暖かさで、６０年前に父が植えた八重桜が一気に咲き出しました。ピンクと白の二色咲きです。なかなか風流な色彩で和みます。どうぞ味わってください。

　今宵はこの下で、ワンカップの日本酒を戴きます。つまみはイワシの煮つけと枝豆です。心は、いつもあなたと一緒です。

　暗くなったら、室内で五輪真弓の「恋人よ」をホ短調によるピアノで弾きます。内緒ですが、最近これが「ハーフムーン」や「さんぽ道」で受けてます。

Dear sweetheart in my heart who are crazy about cherry blossom and great music.

　Today's warmth has caused the double cherry blossoms planted by my late father 60 years ago to bloom all at once. They are bicolor pink and white. The elegant colors are very soothing for me. Please enjoy together with me.

　Tonight, I will enjoy a cup of Japanese sake under this cherry, with simmered sardine and edamame soy beans as snacks. My heart is always with you. Of course, Jumping-in from NZ is also welcome.

　When it gets dark, I will play Itsuwa Mayumi's "Koibito yo" that means "Oh my sweetheart" by the piano in E minor. This is just between you and me and lamppost, this has been a popular theme at "Half Moon" and "Sampo Michi" recently. This is a one in a million chance. Please listen this time.

平凡に見えても、徐々に変貌する日々

　この４月に入学した新一年生、進級し新たなクラスメイトとの出会い、また、初めての職場や、転勤で新たな環境となった方たちにとって「今日は一休み」といったところでしょう。４月は新たな人との出会いや、今までと異なる通勤通学経路に慣れるまで一定の時間が必要と思います。心機一転この新たなチャンスを生かし、従来とは異なる遣り甲斐を見出し、実は新たな自分の発見でもあります。

　という私も、現役時代に７つの職場(カルカッタ日本人学校、高崎支援学校、榛名高、高崎商、富岡高、前橋高、上武大)を経験しました。その都度お会いした方々は今では懐かしい思い出と変わり、お会いすることは皆無です。その代わり、お若い数人とはこのフェイスブックで繋がっており、いいねやコメントを戴くと、すごく嬉しく当時が蘇ります。

　ところで、写真上は昨秋、埼玉県花園町で手にした「八重の枝垂れ桜」の幼木です。幹がS字カーブしてます。築山に植えたところ、嬉しいことに蕾が膨らんできました。今春は未だ咲かないだろうとの予想に反し、日に日に咲く気配となり、変貌を見せてます。冬の期間も毎日見守りつつ、水を与える程度でしたが、予想外の進展もあるものです。膨らみつつある紅い蕾を見ると内心「やった！」という心境です。咲いたら写真をアップします。

　一方、下の写真は廊下で春を満喫するように咲いてる「君子蘭」です。そして、紅のみであったチューリップに何と黄色が咲きました。今日の群馬県は一日中、雨模様です。後方の白いカーテンはピアノの部屋です。以前にホームコンサートで弾いた「雨だれ」を復習してみます。年齢を重ねるとゆっくりした曲をしみじみです。

Dear my friends who are crazy about a fulfilled way of life and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for your understanding will be done after my breakfast Japan time.

..................................................................

　In Japan, for the new academic first-year's pupils and students who entered new school this April, for those who have been promoted and are meeting new classmates, and for those who have been transferred to a new workplace or environment for the first time, today is "a day of rest". In April, it will encounter new people and get used to a different route to workplace or new school. Make a fresh start and take advantage of this new opportunity to find a new sense of fulfillment and actually "discover yourself" as well, I guess.

　I myself have had seven workplaces during my active career such as Calcutta Japanese School, Takasaki Support School, Haruna High School, Takasaki High School of commerce, Tomioka High School, Maebashi High School and Jobu University. The people I had ever met at each of these workplaces are now just fond memories, and I never meet them again. Instead, I am connected with several young people through this Facebook, and when I receive a like or comment from them, I am deeply happy that it brings back memories of those days.

　Not change the subject, but the photo above is a young "double weeping cherry tree" that I got in Hanazono-town, Saitama Prefecture last fall. As you see, the trunk is curved in S-shape. I planted it on the artificial hill for plants named Tsukiyama, and to my delight, the buds have begun to swell. Contrary to my expectations that it is showing signs of blooming day by day though it would not bloom yet this spring, and is showing a transformation. I kept an eye on it every day during the winter, and only gave it water, but there were unexpected developments. When I saw the swelling red buds, I thought to myself, "Joyful shout!" I will upload the photo when it blooms.

　Meanwhile, the photo below shows a "Kaffir lily" blooming in the hallway with enjoying the spring. And the tulips, which were only red in the garden, have now bloomed yellow. It has been raining all day in Gumma Prefecture today. The white curtain in the background is the piano room. I will review "Raindrops by Chopin," which I played at a home concert ago. As I get older, I appreciate slower music more.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

孤食に慣れましたが、脱皮もしたい。

　孤食が既に２０年も続いてます。つまり、２０年×３６５日×３回ですから２万２千回以上で、よく続いたものです。寂しい環境に慣れてしまいました。

　良い点は「人に頼らず生きている」ことで、衣食住と経済は自らの考えで、工夫しつつ自由にやってます。今夜はご覧の「もちもちした餃子」で一杯やる予定です。

　餃子はつまみにもなるし、食事にもなる便利なものです。これに大好きなお刺身なども加わり、今宵はウィスキーのお湯割りです。

　人間生活として「欠くべからざる会話」がないことが私の日常生活の欠点です。このため、可能な限り地区の人たちとの交流に努めてます。本心はフェイスブックのオフ会を我が家でやりたいです。どんなに楽しいことでしょう。二次会はピアノバーで歌が歌えます。

Dear my FB Friends

　I've been eating alone for 20 years now. That is, 20 years x 365 days x 3 times, so more than 22,000 times which is amazing. I've gotten used to the lonely environment.

　The good thing is that I'm "living without relying on others," and I'm free to think about and devise ways to provide for my food, clothing, shelter, and finances. Tonight I'm planning to have a drink with the "Gyoza" that means Chinese meat-and-vegetable flied dumplings" you see in the photo.

　"Gyoza" dumplings are convenient because they can be used as both a snack and a meal. I'll add my favorite sliced raw fish sashimi to this, and tonight I'll have hot whiskey.

　The lack of "indispensable conversation" in human life is a drawback of my daily life. For this reason, I try to interact with people in my area as much as possible. In reality, I'd like to hold a Facebook offline meetup at my house to the core including Ms. Sarah from NZ. How much fun it would be. The after-party will be at a piano bar where you can sing with being accompanied by me.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

雪が上がり、愛車で喫茶「さんぽ道」へ向かう

　今日の午後、雪の心配もなくなり、愛車の調整のためエンジンを動かさなくてはならないので1週間ぶりに喫茶「さんぽ道」へ行きました。

　話をする機会のない一人暮らしは、ここへ来ればママさんやスタッフさんとも話しをするからです。柚子の飲み物を戴きつつ３０分ほど本を読み、その後、１０分程ピアノでロシア民謡「仕事の歌」など昔、体操選手の床運動につけた曲を弾きました。

　東に広がる広大な田畑に太陽が差し、気温も幾分か上がり、今回の雪で、もう本当の春が来るだろうと感じました。写真の花は以前に、ここ「さんぽ道」で手に入れました。これからも暫く咲いている気配です。

Dear my friends who are crazy about nature and great music.

　This afternoon, the worry of snow is over, but I need to get my car's engine condition to make some adjustments, so I went to the cafe "Sampo-michi" for the first time in a week.

　I live alone, therefore don't have opportunity to talk, so when I come here, I talk to the proprietress and staff. I read a book for about 30 minutes while enjoying a yuzu drink, and then I played the piano for about 10 minutes, including the Russian folk song "Work Song," which I once accompanied for floor exercises for gymnast.

　The sun was shining on the vast fields stretching out to the east, and the temperature had risen somewhat, and I felt that with this snow, true spring would arrive. I had previously bought the flowers in the photo at "Sampo-michi." It looks to bloom for a while.

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