I'm leaving for the airport in 30 minutes.

I just wanted to record two images I wasn't able to photograph in Tokyo.

A rainy morning earlier this week, coming out of the subway at Ochanomizu.  We were waiting for the light to change, so we could cross the bridge over the river.  Ahead I saw the bridge crusted over with hundreds of pink, blue, green, black, white umbrellas, hurrying forward.

Last Tuesday coming out of the museum, a corridor with a line of fifty people waiting for a meeting.  Young men and women all dressed alike, in crisp black suits and white starched shirts and blouses.  April is the month for new hirings.  Hopeful starts.  Black suits.

I have had such a good trip this time.  In two days we finished an interview book between Yamakawa-san and myself.  She has translated many spiritual books in Japan and, though quiet and humble, something of a celebrity.  We are the same age.  Little girls in Japan and America during World War II.  Now together, talking about life purpose, overcoming challenges, marriage, and visiting power places.

I'm sorry the book will be published only in Japanese, so I won't be able to read it.

I'll have four other books coming out this year, all in Japanese.  Hmmm.

What a wonderful day.

I finished my last consultation today (a handsome drummer in a Japanese band) and took the afternoon off.  I walked from the apartment to Sunshine City (a huge shopping and entertainment center,) because I wanted to go to the aquarium there (Robert had found it was close to me from searching on the Internet).  It's quite an accomplishment for me to walk around Tokyo by myself!

I had been wanting to go to an art museum.  Amazingly, there is a museum on the 7th floor (the aquarium was okay, but the museum turned out to be the reason I went.  It had three of the most beautiful sculptures I have ever seen.  The show is called Archaic Smile, and it's a collection of Mediterranean figures....

The bust of Buddha from Gandhara, Pakistan 2nd-4th centuries is gray stone dusted with pink.  The miracle was standing close to it, and seeing--almost feeling--the crisp carving of the lips, the nose, the eyes, the rivers of hairs.  I was overwhelmed and it brought tears to my eyes.

The other stunning pieces stood in the same case.  A stone female figurine from China 25-220 AD.  Pale gray, smooth, compact rounded body with arms held in her sleeves, a patch of rusty red like a stain on her pedestal.  Tranquil, waiting as the years pass and pass...

Next to her a ceramic female figure, China 618-907 AD.  Her indigo, gold, and terra cotta gown is glazed, and her face and hair are bisque-colored.  Her hair is in side knots, and her eyes appear closed, and soft smile gives an impression of inner revelation.  I love her!

The guard stopped me from taking pictures, so I bought the exhibition catalogue.  I'm so glad I did!  The catalogue is wonderful, but I'll never forget seeing these pieces in person--their 3 dimensional elegance, presence, and soul.  Who were these inspired artists!  Quiet people going about their business of capturing the human spirit and the spirit of spirit.

Tonight, I had dinner with 7 women.  All powerful and fun!  We decided that for our next meeting we should rent one of the "love hotels" in this neighborhood.   They are meant for private rendezvous, but we could lounge around and order take out and beer!  Maybe use the jacuzzi and sing a little karaoke (I hear the rooms are well-equipped.)

A little more work and then time for a hot soak in the Japanese tub.

Two days ago I had a meeting with Banana Yoshimoto, a very well-known author (remember I mentioned that I  read her books, Kitchen, and Hard Luck and Hardboiled).  Her books are very popular in many countries.  I wish I spoke Japanese!  I had such a warm feeling about her, and I would love to be able to talk freely about life with her!  She's smart, witty, and down-to-earth. Well, in my next lifetime I want to speak at least five languages and have the opportunity to meet the most interesting people in the world.

Don't you think it's a good idea to put in requests (or make affirmations) for the next lifetime?  Why not? 

I've been in Tokyo for one week, and I am finally able to get online!

Fumiko and I are staying in a place in the Ikebukuro area.  It's not so crazy and busy as in some of the other metropolitan areas, so it's nice to walk around on breaks from working.

Yesterday I was walking bya small shop.  Outside was a table filled with packages of stockings.  An older woman was standing there pondering her selection. Unaccountably, her hair was colored bright neon yellow.  Not just yellow, but neon yellow. 

I crossed the street, and took another peek at her.  The sun happened to be shining on her head, and I was desperate to get out my camera and take a clandestine shot of her.  It took me about 30 long seconds to locate my camera at the bottom of my bag, and when I turned back, she was gone.

It was like a movie scene--a vanishing figure.  Since I missed the shot, I am blogging the moment instead!

I must always remember to keep my camera in my pocket.

Happy Birthday, James Redfield (author of the Celestine Prophecy!)

I've been getting packed over the weekend, and trying to take care of last minute postings before leaving for Tokyo tomorrow.  I have a lot of writing to do, but I'm making time to spend with Anders and Auggie since I won't see them for two and a half weeks.  And Robert and I spent the afternoon yesterday in San Francisco--there was an exhibition of photographs I wanted to see.  We drove all the way out to Vicente and 43rd Street to have a late lunch at the Old Mandarin Islamic restaurant that had gotten a good review.

We had fun being in SF, even though I'm so glad I don't live there anymore.  Windy and cold.  No parking.  I drove Robert by my old house I lived in at 21st and Quintara.  The house looks shabby and run-down. 

We read an article about how the cells in the body replace themselves every three months--unless you are not very active.  The cells respond to exercise that tells them that "you are still alive and foraging for food" so they keep on keeping you alive and young (cellularly).  If you become sedentary, the message is, this person is decaying.  Don't bother to replace cells.. Ugh, that will keep me walking.

I'll try to blog when I'm gone, but not sure if I'll have time.