高齢期の生活は健康第一、趣味第二

　今日は１３日の金曜日。英語ではこれを「金曜日の１３日」と語順を逆に言うようです。昨日の夕刻は寒い中、倉賀野から高崎の街中までＪＲ高崎線沿いに１時間２０分歩き、某所での楽しい夕食になりました。しかし、ウォーキングとしては私にはちょっと距離があり過ぎました。でも、今朝の体調はいつもと変わりません。今後はあまり無理をしないよう心掛けます。いつも自ら言ってる通り、運動のポイントは「適度がベスト」です。

　ところで、予報は今日から暖かくなるとのことで、ちらほら梅が咲き始めた早春の庭に希望を感じます。昨日５Kほどのウォーキング中では、人生の第３コーナーから第４コーナーに差し掛かってる今の私にとって「肝心なことは何か」を考えました。それは結局「どうしたら生き甲斐を見つけられるか」でした。

　退職後、予想外の一人暮らしが始まり、私のみならず、多くの高齢者に共通することは、子育てが終わり、寿命が延びて今後２０年、３０年と長い日々を生きる時代です。高齢者が「どうしたら生き甲斐を持って、自分らしく充実して生きられるか」は万人の共通課題です。昔と異なって核家族となり、高齢者の仕事は減ってます。特に、子育ての補助者としての役割は余り求められず、子守りや子供の遊び相手は減り、孫と会うのは時々です。

　これでは繋がりが希薄となり寂しいです。今後はこちらから時々出向くように努めます。先日は孫娘たちのバスケットの応援に行き、普段見られない彼女たちの姿に驚き楽しめました。高齢者の幸せとは、若き日からの得意の分野で夢中になったり、可能であれば、今までにない新たな分野の発想やその実践と考えます。私は今日も植物への水遣りや剪定、ピアノ、そして英単語に挑戦し、時間的に可能であれば日帰り温泉へドライブです。

Dear my friends who are seeking for the meaning of life

　Today is called the 13th of Friday in Japanese. Apparently, in English, this is expressed in reverse order: "Friday the 13th." Last evening, in the cold, I walked 1 hour and 20 minutes along the JR Takasaki Line from Kuragano to downtown of Takasaki-City, and enjoyed a pleasant dinner at the tavern "Baku". However, it was a bit too far for me to walk. This morning, however, I felt the same as usual. I'll try not to push myself too hard from now on. As I always say, the key to training is "moderation is best."

　Not change the subject, but the forecast predicts warmer weather starting today, and the sight of the early spring garden, where a few plums have begun to bloom that gives me hope. During my 5k walk yesterday, I thought about what was most important to me as I approached the third and fourth corners of my life. Ultimately, it came down to "how can I find real meaning in life?"

　After retiring, I unexpectedly began living alone. This is not just for me, but for many older people as well, that is child-rearing or baby -sitting is over, our life expectancy is increasing, and we're living longer, with years of life ahead of us, perhaps even 20 or 30 years in the future. The question of how elderly people can find meaning of life and live fulfilling lives true to themselves is a common concern for all people. Unlike in the past, as you know, the trend has shifted to nuclear families, and the number of jobs available to the elderly is decreasing. In particular, there is less demand for elderly people to assist with ground childcare, there are fewer babysitters and playmates, and we have only a few opportunities to see grandchildren occasionally.

　This weakens connections and makes me feel lonely. I will try to visit them from time to time. The other day, I went to cheer on my granddaughters' basketball game, and was surprised and delighted to see them in a way that I don't usually see. I believe that happiness for the elderly comes from being passionate about the fields they've been good since their youth, and, if possible, coming up with new ideas and practicing. Today, I'll be watering and pruning plants in the garden, practicing the piano, and trying to increase English vocabulary, and if time allows, taking a drive to a day spa in Gumma Prefecture.

眺めて飽きない白銀の浅間山

　今日、１月７日の日の出は６時５６分【群馬県】で、年間で最も遅いです。１月１０日から６時５５分となり、ほんの少し早まります。今日の正午の太陽高度は３１°です。これは冬至より１°高くなります。また、今日の日の入りは１６時４４分予定で、こちらは１２月７日の１６時２８分より１６分も遅くなります。このため、夕方は日が伸びてるのが実感できるでしょう。昼の長さについては、今日は９時間４８分で、冬至の９時間４１分より７分長くなります。このため日の出のみ未だ遅いです。

　画像はウォーキング中、鏑川の土手から撮った活火山・浅間山です。標高は２５６８mです。気に入った写真なのでパソコンを開くと出て来る画面にしてあります。以前にお伝えしましたように、私にもあった１７才から２０代の若き日に、この山頂に３回も登ったので、巨大なクレーターと深さ１００mほど下から出でいる噴煙、山頂から見えた富士山の高さ、広大な関東平野に感銘したことが今でも脳裏に焼き付いてます。この写真を見る度に当時の山頂の光景が思い出され、青春に戻ります。

　ところで、子供たちは今日から３学期が始まるので、予定表に従ってパトロールや信号機の所での交通指導、及び挨拶運動を図ります。上４公園でのラジオ体操会と、集会所「ふるさと」での「いきいき健幸クラブ」は寒冷のため１～２月は休みで３月から再開です。このため、温かな日には自ら屋外での運動や、歌の伴奏のため指の感覚が鈍らないようピアノに向かいます。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about great music.

　Today, January 7th, sunrise was at 6:56am [Gumma Prefecture], the latest of the year. Since January 10th, it will be slightly earlier at 6:55am. The sun's altitude at noon today will be 31°, which is 1° higher than at the winter solstice. Sunset today will be at 4:44pm, 16 minutes later than at 4:28pm on December 7th. Because of this, you'll notice the days getting longer in the evening. The length of daylight today is 9 hours and 48 minutes, this is 7 minutes longer than the 9 hours and 41 minutes at the winter solstice. Because of this, only sunrise is still late.

　The photo is of the active volcano Mt. Asama, taken from the bank of the Kabra River while I was walking recently. Its altitude is 2,568m. I like this photo so I made it the screen that appears when I open my computer. As I mentioned before, I had climbed to the summit three times, between the ages of 17 and 20s, and the memories I am still impressed by the huge crater, the volcanic smoke rising from a depth of about 100 meters below, the height of Mt. Fuji as seen from the summit, and the vast Kanto Plain are still burned into my mind. Every time I look at this photo, I am reminded of the view from the summit at that time, so that it takes me back to my adolescence.

　Not Change the subject, but the children's third semester starts today in Takasaki-City, so they will be following the schedule for patrols, traffic guidance at traffic lights near Kuragano elementary school, and greeting campaigns. Radio Gymnastics at Kami-4th Park and the Ikiiki Health Club at the Furusato Community Center are closed for January and February due to the cold weather, but will resume in March. For this reason, on warm days, I will be exercising outdoors on myself, and the piano practice to keep the fingers sharp for accompanying for the member's singing.

娘たちが帰った後、静かにピアノを弾く

　昨晩の大晦日から今日・元日の午前中にかけ、二人の娘とその家族、更に犬3頭(２頭の秋田犬とダックスフンド)も含め、実家である我が家に宿泊したので、私も名酒「倉賀野」などを振舞い、久々に大賑わいになりました。このように大勢になるのは盆暮れの二回ほどで、比較的広い畳の部屋もある我が家は充分にその機能を発揮しました。

　私が子供の頃、犬は外で飼ったものですが、現在は家族として家の中で飼う風習に変わってます。そのため、核家族の現代は旅行でも犬は家で留守番とはいかないようです。娘たちは常に純粋に犬に話しかけ、私も以前に四国犬や柴犬を娘たちと飼育してたので、その気持ちはよく分かります。

　ところで、全員が帰宅すると、家は元通り私一人になり、火が消えたようです。音のない世界は寂しく、静かになった部屋で暫くピアノを弾いたら、改めてピアノの音色の良さが感じられ、急に思い立ち、そうだ！今年は、ピアノで静かな曲を「音色に拘りながら」弾くことにしようと今年の目標ができました。お茶と共に、拙い演奏を聴きたい方はいらして下さい。

Dear friends who are crazy about the pleasure in New Year's holiday

　Since last night's New Year's Eve through the morning of New Year's Day, my two daughters and their husbands, their families, and their three dogs (two Akitas and a Dachshund) stayed at my home, so I treated them to some fine sake named "Kuragano," so that it was a very lively gathering after a long interval. I only have this many guests twice a year, around the Obon in August and New Year's holidays, therefore relatively large tatami mat rooms were fully utilized.

　When I was a child, we kept dogs outside, but now the custom has shifted to keeping them inside the home as part of the family. As a result, in today's world of nuclear families, it seems that dogs can't be left alone at home when traveling. My daughters are always talking to their dogs with such kindness. I used to raise Shikoku dogs and Shiba dogs with my daughters, so I understand their feelings very well.

　By the way, when everyone went home, I was left alone again, and the pleasant time seemed to have gone out. It was lonely in the silent world. After that I was playing the piano for a while in the quiet room, I once again appreciated the beauty of the piano's tone quality. Then, a sudden thought occurred to me: "That's right!" This year, I have set a purpose to play quiet pieces of the piano while "paying attention to the tone quality." If you would like to listen to my clumsy playing over tea, please come along.

今年のガーデニングは今日で終了・・・すべて一人で行いました。

　午前中はクリスマスパーティーでソプラノサックスを演奏しました。それが一転して、午後は、小雨の降る中、庭師に早変わりです。音楽演奏、そして庭師と種類の異なる別世界のことに従事すると、それぞれの良さを味わえて楽しいものです。

　いかがでしょう。この敷石の小道は庭先から玄関まで１５mほどの長さです。この敷石の両端に、ご覧の通り小石を詰める作業を先程終了し、築山もすでに完成し、どうやら今年の庭の作業を終わります。

　後は、この玄関の戸が開き、中から和服姿の女将が、にこにこしながら姿を見せ、フェイスブックの皆様に「お待ちしておりました」と、迎える段取りのみになりました。果たして、そんな令和８年が来るでしょうか。笑われるかもしれませんが、人間とは夢を追い求めることが生きることです。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about real happiness,

　In the morning, I played the soprano saxophone at the Christmas party. Then, in the afternoon, in a light rain, I quickly switched to gardening. Engaging in two completely different worlds, playing music and gardening, is enjoyable as I can appreciate the benefits of each.

　What do you think of this view? This flagstone path is about 15m long from the entrance of the garden to the front door. As you can see, I have just finished filling both ends of the flagstones with pebbles, and the artificial hill is already complete, so it looks like I'll be done with gardening for this year.

　All that's left now is for the front door to open, and the landlady wearing in kimono appears with a smile, welcoming friends of Facebook with a message of "We've been waiting for you." Will 2026 year really be like that? You might laugh at me, but the purpose of human life is to pursue our real dream.

高齢期に必要なこと・・・それは夢を持つこと

　昨日の午前中、よく考えた末に「みかんの幼木」を東の間の前に植えました。何をよく考えたかと言いますと、私は現在、二階を居間として生活してますが、老後の２０年後～３０年後は一階の東の畳の部屋を居間として使うつもりでいます。ここなら将来、部屋に居ながらにして「みかんが生る」姿が見えます。

　「みかん」は体調維持に欠かせないビタミンの栄養補給になると共に、「みかん」が生ってる光景を眺めれば、次第に大きく、黄色くなる姿に夢が生じ、気持ちが豊かになると考えたからです。しかも、この場所は「ミカンの木」にとって日当たりがよく、風が余り当たらない場所です。水場も近くにあり、成長の条件として最も適していると感じました。

　柑橘類はこの他に現在食べ頃が近づいてる「金柑」(写真右下)が推定５００個ほど生ってます。このためでしょう。近年、私は殆ど風邪を引きません。風邪を引きませんが、寂しいだけです。捥ぎたい方はいらして下さい。

　ところで、どんな分野でも「夢は高齢期にとても必要」です。夢は若者だけにあるものではありません。私にはピアノで楽しい音楽をいろいろ弾きたい夢、日常生活に関係する英単語を使えるように覚える夢、それと、もう一つ大きな夢があります。果たして叶うでしょうか。

【英訳は２段目以降です。】　

Dear my friends who are crazy about planning 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.

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

　The tangerine provides not only a nutrition of vitamin which is essential for maintaining good health, but I also believe that watching the tangerine which grows larger and yellower inspires dream and enriches our soul. Furthermore, this location is sunny and sheltered from the northern wind. There's also a water source nearby, so that here is making it ideal for their growth.

　In addition to these citrus fruits, there are an estimated 500 kumquats (bottom right of photo) growing in my garden, which are now approaching their peak season. This is probably a reason why I hardly ever catch a cold recently. But I just feel lonely. If you'd like to pick some, please come over the New Year holidays.

　Not change the subject, but in any field, "dreams are very important in old age." Dreams aren't just for young people. I have a dream of playing lots of fun music by the piano, a dream of memorizing English vocabulary for everyday use, and I have one other big dream. I wonder if this dream will come true?

　

大きな茄子にびっくり

　ほぼ毎日、主夫として午前中、近くのスーパーへ買い物に行きます。今日は店頭に並んでたナスの大きさに驚きました。新鮮で色艶は良く、長さが普通のナスの２倍はあり２０cmほどです。しかも、一般のナスと同じ値段で３つで１９８円です。

　私の場合、朝の味噌汁に入れるだけですが、これなら１週間以上も持ちます。果たして味はどうでしょう。

　「秋茄子は嫁に食わすな」。と言いますが、嫁は未だ居ません。居れば仲良く一緒に食べます。

　As a househusband, I go shopping at my local supermarket almost every morning. Today I was surprised by the size of the eggplants on display in the store. They were fresh, shiny, and twice the length of a normal eggplant about 20cm. What's more, they were the same price as regular eggplant, 198 yen for three.

　In my case, I just put it in morning miso soup, and they will last for over a week. But how do they taste?

　In Japan general saying, "Don't let wife eat autumnal eggplant," but I don't have a wife yet, I am seeking her seriously.

未来とは予想できないことも起こり得る

　「この実は何でしょう。」実は、庭のハクモクレンの実です。現在の実が上の写真で、左下が１０日ほど前に撮ったもので、右下が２週間ほど前に撮ったものです。秋と共に、色彩が赤く変化していることが分かります。

　このハクモクレンは３０年ほど前、私が未だ現役の若き日に埼玉県花園から「いすゞ１１７クーペ」のトランクに根だけを入れ、幹や枝は外に出して遥々運んできたものです。それが最近は高さ６ｍほどに成長したので、一度、小さな芽を二つ残し、幹の途中を切りました。ところが、生命力が強く、その芽が再び高さ５mほどに成長し、再度、一部の枝を切断したところ、購入以来、今年になって初めて実が生ったのです。

　それにしても、秋になってから日に日にきれいな色になりつつあります。実は、私はハクモクレンに実が生ることを知りませんでした。もしかして、私たちは自分では知らないだけで「未来に良いことが起こる」良い例かもしれません。果たして、私にもそんなことが起こるでしょうか。実は、今それを一番希望してます。

　家にいるだけでは人との交流が狭いです。毎日、運動方々あちこちに出かけつつ、新たな人脈を開拓し、一度きりの人生を人間らしく豊かに送りたいものです。珍しいハクモクレンの赤い実をご覧になりたい方は見にいらして下さい。お茶と共に、拙いピアノもお聴き戴ければ嬉しいです。

Dear my friends who are crazy about new interacting with people and great music.

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

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

　"Tell me about these fruits?" They're actually white magnolia fruits. The photo above shows the current fruit; the one on the bottom left was taken about 10 days ago, and the one on the bottom right was taken about two weeks ago. We can see that the color has changed to red with deepening autumn.

　I brought this white magnolia tree from Hanazono-town, Saitama Prefecture, about 30 years ago, when I was still young and active, carrying only the roots in the trunk of my Isuzu 117 Coupe, leaving the trunk and branches outside. It recently grew to a height of about 6m, so I cut it halfway down the trunk, leaving two small sprouts. However, it proved to be very vital energy and resilient, and the buds grew again to a height of about 5m. After cutting back some of the branches, fruit began to appear this year for the first time since I bought it.

　Now autumn is here in Japan, the color is becoming more beautiful with each passing day. To be honest, I didn't know white magnolias could bear fruit. Perhaps this is a good example of how good things can happen in the future, even if I don't realize it. Will that good things really happen to me? In fact, I hope for most right now.

　Staying at home limits the interaction with people. I want to exercise every day, by going out and exploring, meeting new connections, and my lifetime is one and only life to the fullest in a humane way. By the way, if you'd like to see the rare red berries of the white magnolia, please come and see it. I'd be happy if you could also listen to my humble piano playing along with some tea.

　

有意義だった今日の午後

　午後になってからドライブ方々、吉井ドリームセンターに行き、さっぱりしてきました。一旦、家に帰ってから、今度は喫茶「さんぼ道」へ直行し、１時間ほど寛ぎました。どちらも空いてました。この二か所は私の生活の一部になってます。

　昔、吉井ドリームセンターでＰＴＡの会合があったとき、倉賀野から歩いて行ったことが思い出されました。３時間かかりました。今より若かったのです。今度はもっと豊かな自然の中をどなたかと一緒に歩きたいです。

　In the afternoon today, I went for a drive and arrived at the Yoshii Dream Center for bathing. After returning home, I then headed straight to the "Sampo-michi" cafe and relaxed for about an hour. Both places were quite empty today. These two places have become integral of my daily life.

　I remembered that 25 years ago, when there was a PTA meeting at the Yoshii Dream Center, I walked there from Kuragano-town. It took me three hours on foot. I was younger then. Now, I would like to go for a walk through lush natural surrounding with someone, if possible with lady, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

植物には水を、人には愛を！

　猛暑が続く今年の夏です。私の不注意で今夏は植物たちのうち「ツツジ1本」「西洋シャクナゲ１本」を水不足で枯れてしまい反省してます。半日も暑い太陽光に直接照らされてると、特に植木鉢の植物は根の方まで水分がなくなってしまいます。

　それに反し、私は水分補給をこまめに行い、夕食に生ビールを飲み、喉を潤し、涼んでいるので申し訳ないと感じてます。でも、毎回、孤食であるが故、寂しさは人一倍です。健康管理には細心の注意を払い、新鮮な野菜の種類を多めにしてます。今の時季、オクラ、キュウリ、ナスは美味しくて欠かせません。

　がん対策としては、抗酸化作用の強いリコピン【トマトなど】やβーカロチン【ニンジンなど】のジュースを早朝時にブログを書きつつ、コップ一杯飲んでます。空腹なので身体中に浸み渡る感じです。

　しかし、日々の精神生活で大切なことは人との愛と確信します。最近は出会った方のお顔を思い出しつつ、食事をしたり、植物に水を遣ったり、ピアノを弾いたりし、その点では充実してます。健康維持に邁進すれば、いつかは良いときが来るでしょうか。

Dear my friends

　As you noticed, this summer has been scorching hot in Japan. My carelessness has also caused one azalea and one western rhododendron to wither from lack of water, so I'm feeling bad about that. Being exposed to direct hot sunlight for even half a day can easily drain water decreased to the roots, especially in potted plants.

　In contrast, I'm diligently hydrating myself ever time, and drinking draft beer at dinner to quench my thirst and cool down, so I feel bad about that. But since I always eat alone, I feel even lonelier than most. I pay close attention to my health and eat a variety of fresh vegetables. At this time of year, okra, cucumber, and eggplant are delicious and essential on the dinner table.

　To against cancer, I drink a glass of juice containing lycopene (from tomatoes, etc.) and beta-carotene (from carrots, etc.), both of which have strong antioxidant properties, early in the morning while I'm writing the weblog post. Because I'm hungry, I feel like the juice soaks up my whole body.

　However, I am convinced that the most indispensable thing in my daily spiritual life is the love. Recently, I have been remembering the face of a lady I have met. While eating, watering plants, and playing the piano, I have been feeling fulfilled. From now on, if I work hard to maintain my health, perhaps good times will come someday.

　　

夕食前、家の前の道を１０往復ウォーキング

　ほんの少し涼しくなる午後６時から、家の前の道を１０往復ウォーキングします。道の長さは丁度５０mなので合計１０００mです。歩いていると何か見たり、人と会ったり、何か考えたりして歩いた回数を忘れがちなので、写真の通り、塀の上に石を置いて一往復する度に石を隣に動かします。

　目標は万人の願いと共通で、いつまでも元気に歩けることです。散歩より速めに歩きたいので今日はちょっとストライドを広げるつもりです。足は長い方なので【これが言いたいのではありません。】快適な速度になります。ご褒美はその後の生ビールです。おつまみはすでに用意してあります。では、これから歩きます。

Dear my sweetheart in my heart

　Starting at 6pm Japan time, when it's just a little cooler, I'll walk 10 times up and down the path in front of my garden. The path is exactly 50m long, so the total is 1000m. As I walk, I tend to forget how many times I've walked because I see something, meet someone, or think about something, so as you can see in the photo, I place a small stone on the fence and move it next after one walk.

　My purpose is the same as everyone to be able to walk healthily forever. I will walk faster than a stroll, so I'm going to increase my stride a bit today. As you know, I have long legs, so [that's not what I want to say] I'll be able to walk at a comfortable pace. My reward will be a draft beer afterwards. Snacks have already been prepared. All I'm missing is that you aren't in front of me. Well, I'll start walking now.