CELEBRATING 2022 AS WE MOVE INTO 2023
Right now, there is a big FED-EX truck stuck in our driveway. He was turning around and got his right back truck wheel “high centered”, so it spins and has no traction. He eventually called a tow truck to pull him out of his dilemma.
The tow truck looks considerably smaller than the big Fed-Ex truck, but got the job done.
The truck is no longer blocking so, Grandma and Kaori are on their way to an Orthodontic checkup. Earlier, they had discussed what Kaori would like to watercolor for Grandma’s blog this week. Kaori had answered, “I like the fireworks celebrating New Year, but maybe the celebration can also be of the best parts of this past year.”
Turning left on to West Mercer Way, Grandma explained, “Maybe I’ll write about Fed-Ex truck and think about the ‘Tow-Trucks’ in our life.
Kaori was enthusiastic, “I like that!”
“So what are some of the Tow-Trucks we can celebrate?”
Kaori answers from the back seat of the Subaru, “Community! Of course family, and yes, friends.
“Let’s start with you, what was the best part of 2022 for you?” Grandma asks as we turn right at the corner with all the special holiday lighting in Mercerdale Park. “There is no doubt the watercolors you got for your birthday in June is your highlight?”
“I was kind of thinking of our Hawaii trip, but yes AND all the pencils and watercolor stuff for Christmas,” Kaori adds.
Back at home, Kirin has no trouble responding to what she plans to celebrate, “High School and Drill Team. I like the discipline, I get a lot of exercise and I love the camaraderie!” Mercer Island Drill Team got first place in their local tournament a couple weeks ago. They are determined to win state.
Mom, Kelly, lost several pounds on her Keto Diet with her coach, but she’s not ready to celebrate because she is not done yet.
Grandma is pleased to celebrate the monthly random guests, since May, participating in the STORIES AT THE PANAMA. Listening to many podcasts about “finding and expressing the truth - of who I am”, she heard and embraces the phrase “FINDING THE RICHNESS OF LIFE IN EVERY STORY”. What a mission statement for her new life path.
There was a smile on his face, as the Fed-Ex driver hollered out his window to the Tow-truck driver as they were leaving,“That was ‘POWERFUL HELP’, thanks!!”
![ANOTHER KAORI WATERCOLOR]()
ANOTHER KAORI WATERCOLOR
Yesterday was a snowy day. Kaori (13) and I talked about what I might blog about our thoughts and she wanted to think about the good feelings with a warm fire in our living room.
Kelly has been sitting in front of this warmth all month as she taps out, on her computer, the right words for the book she is putting together about her Dad, his philosophy and art with his 250 cartoon strips he completed before he died five years ago. Starting in 2012, Dad Sam’s weekly cartoon strips were published by the North American Post for five years.
December reminds us of the 2017 month of illness Sam endured producing his last cartoon strip for January and passing on December 31st. As the family gathered that day, sister Irene noted, “Sam was born on the 13th and today is the 31st, thirteen backwards!”
In 1971, when Sam and I took our first trip to Japan, we had to quickly get our visas and went to the City of Seattle Vital Statistics office to get Sam’s birth certificate. That’s when he officially learned he was born on January, 13, 1933, at 3am, on Friday the 13th, at 1303 Washington Street in Seattle, was the 3rd child of a mother 23 and a father 33 and their address was Route 3 in Renton.
Publisher Bruce Rutledge, of Chin Press, was here yesterday for lunch and he likes the idea of the title of our book being, THE WAY OF SAM, which might resonate more with all who seek truth and being American. The North American Post comic strips were titled SEATTLE TOMODACHI.
School is out, no homework, the girls and Suki the dog are filling our home with music, lights and love for the season.
![Gift of family]()
Gift of family
As I was hiding Christmas gifts for the girls this 2022 holiday season, I found this story Grandpa Sam had written on the shelf of his writings and drawings in my closet. It is representative of the gift of life and the gift of family.
UMBILICAL CORD TEA
By Sam Goto
I was eight-years-old and living in Bully Creek, Oregon. We lived in a house Dad built on to an old chicken coop. This was before WWII – no electricity, no plumbing, an outside privy; but I have many memories of the place.
One memory is the time I was going through Mom’s medicine box. It contained Japanese herbal cures like “gorin” (small BB size silver pellets), a piece of brown root that had a medicinal odor that was shaved for tea.
The thing that interested me most was a dried up piece of something, light brown, wrapped in cellophane that looked like dried up cuttlefish. I remember asking Mom about it and she said: “It is your UMBILICAL CORD, saved especially for you. If you ever get real sick, we can make tea out of it and it will make you well!”
I never saw it after that or ever needed it. Maybe there was something to it. Stem cells are now being studied by scientists – Stem Cells?
Umbilical cord traditions in Japan:
In Japanese culture, many believe that the umbilical cord directly impacts the baby's health. So, when a mother gives birth in Japan, the hospital will usually give her a special box to preserve the cord after it falls from the baby's belly button.
![SOURCE?]()
SOURCE?
According to Sudhguru, “connecting with source” starts with appreciating colors, wearing natural product created clothes, noticing sunrises and sunsets, being passionate with nature and exuberant about living.
Love is described as transitional sweetness of emotion. If my body become pleasant, I can call it good health. If my mind becomes pleasant, I can call it peace and or pleasure and further feel joy, blissfulness, ecstasy!
So today, as I am taking time to empty the dishwasher and clean the Kitchen sink, I am taking more time to appreciate the pleasantness of moments. It makes me feel good to see a clear kitchen counter ready for the next round of cooking and eating.
I come back to my room and it feels good to see a made bed, but some of yesterday’s socks are under the rebounder. I toss them into my laundry basket, then I take out the waste basket to be emptied into the garbage can outside. The sun is mid-day in the sky, there are a few clouds. How glorious to feel the cool November air.
Getting in the car to drive the 13-yr-old to Karate practice, I am explaining my feelings to her because I am asking her to do another watercolor to illustrate this blog.
I’m writing it all down and imagining how readers can be feeling their own joyful moments?
Neuroscientist at Stanford, Andrew Huberman, explains this thinking as “dopamine releasing” moments. Dr. Rahu Jandial, surgeon and neuroscientist, suggest we pay more attention to our breathing.
Growing up in the fundamental Christian home I agreed to be baptized at age six. I remember the other girl around age 10 went on and on about how she was transformed. At that time I thought, “Nothing changed for me?” I prayed as I walked to school. I still have the same habits of thinking-praying, but it’s becoming more fun. “SOURCE”? Hmmmm? Lots to learn!
- If you are a bloguru member, please login.
Login
- If you are not a bloguru member, you may request a free account here:
Request Account
