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.