Time goes by

Despite the fact that summer heat still blazes and rainy season-style humidity reigns supreme here in Tokyo, we were bless with the perfect September evening today. And as I walked slowly down the street where I live, I was overwhelmed to tears. Blessed is not a strong enough word. Truly, how is this fair that I am allowed such grace and mercy by our God?

I don't want to leave.

This has been a perfect Labor Day weekend. I closed out my Friday night with a student's family. I met Machiko at the church and together we walked to her house where I spent four lovely hours around her dinner table, talking with her, her husband, and her son. She was so excited to practice English and pushed her family, as only a matriarch can, to do the same. "Tell her about yourself. In English? Of course, in English!" They pulled out old photo albums and Google maps so that we could see exactly the house in Kobe where Machiko's husband was born. And they were so excited to see not only my old apartment in Lakeshore, but also my new house on Capitol and the IMS. It was a really fantastic evening.

Today, too, was majestic. This is perhaps the most at home I've felt here, and I don't remember a day yet that has been so effortless. We've spent this term reading bits and pieces of C.S. Lewis's Prince Caspain in one class and I was determined to give them each an English copy on the last class. English books aren't the easiest to find, though it's certainly not impossible, and finding a specific one is even more challenging. Then try finding three copies of that one book. Luckily, the Chronicles of Narnia series has risen in popularity, so I haven't scrambled to find them. I found two copies on Thursday at a store in Ikebukuro and my only aim today was to find that third copy. On my drives to Chuo I pass two bookstores and I thought it would be pleasant to walk there today. Of course it was ridiculously hot, but that was half the fun!

It took about an hour and a half, but I made it to both bookstores--neither of which had an English section. It was still fun to look, though. A bookstore is a bookstore.

So I found my own way (I had no directions!) from the Book Center to Higashi-Kurume eki without struggle and boarded a train to Ikebukuro. Since I have to go through there to get to Shibuya, I figured I'd try Junkudo to see if they'd restocked. They hadnt', but why wouldn't I take one more chance to walk through Ikebukuro? I never thought when I started out this morning that my day would end in Shibuya, but it did, and how much fun I had! That is, I think, my favorite part of the city. Yes, it's so touristy, but there's a reason for that. It's just a fun, fun place to be. The top floor of Tower Records is an English bookstore where I found the exact copy I needed within the first two minutes of reaching the store. I spent a little bit of time wandering through the streets before heading back to Higashi Tokorozawa. Even now I'm amazed at the ease with which I moved from place to place to place. It all came nearly without conscious thought, as if it was second-nature. And perhaps, after 4 1/2 months, it is.

I don't want to leave, yet.