I'm a Japanese housewife living in Japan. I'm in my 60's. I want to know daily lives in the world, so at first I'll tell my daily. What is your daily life?
A new week has started. Yesterday we checked our summer clothes . Mine is all right, I could put away one dress. Yuki said “it is too small”. So he is going to discard four clothes in the afternoon. It means we are going to go out for looking four his new clothes: summer shirts.
Yesterday I talked with a friend on the phone. She is older than I, but she still manages her English school.
She lives in the next prefecture, it is too far to visit her easily.
It is all right. If she lived within one hour distance I would often visit her to complain. Well, if I could, she must be too busy to listen to me.
After having dinner I took a walk for 15 minutes. I was surprised that how many people were walking. Though it is the wet season, it is really humid and hot.
According to the weather forecast, this week we have rain, though it is cloudy and humid today.
It’s 7 AM. I’ll leave home in one and a half hours. Why? From this month sutra copying meeting begins at 9 o’clock.
Actually for me having low blood pressure it is a little bit difficult to do morning training. Though it is said the elderly are morning people, I am not.
Addition I am not a night person.
Yesterday a friend presented me a bunch of rhubarb. In the afternoon I am going to make candied rhubarb. It doesn’t use fire, though I have to disinfect a jar in hot boiling water.
Yesterday the laughter yoga meeting was fun. I am in my 60’s. Another one is in her 70’s. And the others are in their 80’s. At first we talk our complaints —— all of them “my …….s hurt!” All of them go to an orthopedic clinic as a usual thing. Well I know I myself am strange why I am included.
Then to rewrite negative things into positive things, we talk what was good, what made us happy, what we appreciated in this month.
Two each women say “I could visit my friend.” Their friends live in the same city but it is far to go on foot. Going there by bus is troublesome. They have to walk to the bus stop. They have to change the bus. The bus comes once an hour. Going there by taxi is, they say, “Too expensive”.
This time each of them found a person who took them by car. One is her friend’s friend’s husband.
Yesterday Yuki could play golf. He was so exhausted that he went to bed earlier than usual. Though he doesn’t have much energy as he used to, he still enjoy sports. It is a good thing.
I went to an eye clicking in the morning. It was really crowded. I was sitting for long hours. In the evening I did one circuit exercise at the gym, but my back hurt at night. I put a patch on my back.
I don’t know which gave my back damage, sitting for long hours or just light 10 minute exercise (most of time I was stomping lightly on the walking board skipping half of machines ).
Today I hold a laughter yoga meeting. In the evening we go to a dental clinic.
Yuki has already left. Why? To play golf. Probably it is the first time for him to play golf this year. He seems to go through his side effect tunnel. It was longer this time.
“Thankfully” yesterday I was presented seasonal vegetables : summer bamboo and Japanese pepper berries. To tell the truth these days hot and humid days continue, so I didn’t want to cook. Actually I bought delicatessen for our dinner.
But I couldn’t waste it. And I know it is very important to cook as fast as we possible when we dig or pick them.
We’ve already finished our breakfast. It was 40 minute earlier. Why?
Today Yuki gets a CT in the afternoon. He has to finish lunch two hours before it. It means our lunchtime before 11 a.m. There are some cafes which serve “morning set. “For me”, it is fun. So we got earlier than usual and had early breakfast.
Yesterday I did one circuit exercise. It troll about 20 minutes. I skipped a half of machines, instead workout using them, I was walking in place. Additionally when I was at the gym, Yuki bought 2 summer pants as his lounge wear at home.
Yesterday, it took longer getting physical therapy and seeing the doctors at the orthopedic clinic. After that we went to Yuki’s clinic as usual. I was tired. So I couldn’t go to the gym. The orthopedic doctor said “light exercise is all right”. Today I was going to do one circuit exercise in the afternoon. While I am doing, Yuki is going to “browse” his clothes at supermarket next to the gym.
Now I wear a T-shirt. It is the first time to put on a T-shirt from early morning. Until yesterday I changed a long sleeve shirt into a T-shirt in the afternoon. Today it is already hot. Is it the wet season?
My first mission of this week is going to an orthopedic clinic to get a physical therapy. Additionally in he morning Yuki has no schedule (usually on Mondays he has no tennis meeting.) he said “I will take you to the clinic. While you get it, I will be at Uniqlo clothes shop.”
On the other hand if the doctor permit to one circuit exercise which doesn’t include ones for waist and back, I want to go to one circuit exercise in the afternoon while Yuki goes to the supermarket which has alcohol, and inexpensive clothes. (It means the clothes are cheaper thanUniqlo’s.)
Anyway today’s his condition is not so bad. I am relieved.
It is Sunday, Yuki has no plans because of raining. He will go to a radium hot spring where it takes one-hour drive. He got this information from a Jazz mate. Will I? I won’t. Now I want to avoid a long (over one hour) drive. These days we often did it, and it made my sacral bone pain prolonged.
It is good for Yuki to go out. His stress is relieved. Now his biggest stress is his mother’s inheritance issue. I thing it will take long to settle.
P.S
After updating this blog. It stopped rain. Yuki went playing tennis. And in the afternoon he will go to the hot spring. Though I think he does too much, I can’t stop him. For the outside he does not look good because of coughing, though he says muscle pain is reduced.
Can you see Yuki’s photo? It is a mail box in a town. There are some popular milk farms in this town. The post box in front of the station is milk style.
I could let go two-thirds of my English picture collection books. Are my bookshelves empty? Not yet.
Well, I forgot to tell my readers. Yesterday I updated a wrong YouTube of Yuki’s. U have already another one. Yesterday the number of the music Yuki composed exceeded the number of Beethoven’s.
It is cloudy. Today we will go to a local community center to donate some English picture books. These days suddenly new movements to my English book collection happened. Thankfully I found three groups who want to use my collection. Yesterday I sent a cardboard box of books to a person who owns her art room.
I also got an e-mail. During summer vacation they want to events of storytelling using English picture books. I am happy they rely on me.
Today it is sunny. According to the weather forecast it will be sunny or clouds for these two days.
I am thinking what were good and thankful things.
We know a reliable lawyer, we had a good talking with him yesterday. Yuki continues getting treatments. And we had tasty sandwiches for lunch at a cafe. Thanks for the lawyer, thanks for the doctor.
And writing this blog makes me calm. Thanks for tie visitors to my blog.
It is rainy. The wet season (or rainy season) has started. Another stage has started. Last night Yuki talked the lawyer.
Yesterday it was the day of Karaku. Though it was rainy, it was full. Our audience are mainly older people than us, though some of them are in their 50’s or 60’s. The owner’s couple became in their late 70’s. Anyway my friend and I enjoyed at the current moment of Karaku cafe.
A new week has started. We are overwhelmed by many different emotions. Anyway we do what we can, and should do today. Today’s missions are going to a clinic, and “grocery shopping” (is it a mission?).
Yesterday it was the day of placing the body of Yuki’s mother in the coffin. Our daughters attend it, we also saw it through their iPhones. After each daughter went back home. I talked with each daughter.
It was a long talking on the phone.
Though all of us have a lot of emotions, all procedures seem to go smoothly. On next Monday her (family and close relatives) funeral is going to be hold.
Today, we will change winter carpets into summer carpets. We have to wash and dry the winter carpets at the nearest laundromat. It is the first mission of today’s.
Yesterday, Yuki’s mother passed away. She will be 97 years old in late June. Her funeral is going to hold next Monday, but unfortunately we won’t attend it. Yuki has to take another treatment.
Anyway fortunately we could meet her the day before yesterday.
We are relieved to hear that she passed away calmly, and without pain.
Our daughters go and help their aunts in-law (Yuki’s elder brother’s wife).
We really thank to our daughters.
We go to a clinic on schedule to heal his side effects as much as possible.
Yesterday it was a long “drive” day. Since we drove to Tokyo last time, five months have passed. Just five months, but Yuki’s condition has apparently changed.
His mother was asleep. Though unfortunately we only saw her sleeping face, but she seemed to feel no pain, looked calm. Her nursing home seems to be comfortable, and care workers seem to be kind and friendly. (It was the first time for us to visit her new nursing home where she moved four months before.)
We could visit my mother’s (and my father’s & my grandparents’) grave.
We are satisfied with doing those things.
We are going to see Yuki’s doctor, today. In one hour we will leave home.
In one hour we will leave for Tokyo to visit Yukik’s mother. She got worse. Tomorrow, Yuki is going to take chemotherapy, and probably he will surfer from side effects for a while. In good meaning it must be a good timing.
Anyway we do what we can do and what we should do.
Today in one hour, I'll go to see an orthopedic doctor and have a physical therapy. Will be able to resume workout?
Yesterday it was rainy. There was a low air pressure. Did it make me depressed? No, it made me very sleepy. In the afternoon I was asleep while listening to the radio.
Though I had a plan, I cancelled it. Nowadays I have almost nothing I have to do. It makes me sometimes lazy, but it makes me less stressed.
Yesterday we were reviewing our home documents, like passwords list, house budget, and so on. Then when we printed them out, the printer couldn’t work. We could fix it somehow. It took longer than we expected. In good meaning we could spend fulfilling afternoon.
Though it is another thing that what is a simple life, it is really difficult to have simple life.
In the evening, our next neighbor shared a watermelon to us. It was the first watermelon of this year. Unfortunately it was a cool (cold) day. We ate turning on the heater.
Yesterday, I did walking exercise. Though it was a good thing, I seem to walk too much. This morning my leg hurts. The orthopedic doctor said “it is all right to start walking” . I have increased walking. Steps little by little. Anyway today I will walk a little.
Yuki said having breakfast “my tennis mates (in their 60’s &70’s) said “ everyone who is in our generation says somewhere hurts when we wake up in the morning.”
Two of us said “definitely”with a big laugh.
Additionally Yuki hurts his shoulder and wrist, because he played the guitar too much to join in jam session yesterday.
It is cold for me, though someone says “cool”. Usually I change winter carpets into cotton carpets, but I don’t do it yet.
Yesterday we went to karaku cafe. I presented the owner a bag of coffee beans with whiskey flavor. The owner’s couple showed an interest to the cafe in a rural area. Karaku’s owner also took early retirement and opened his cafe with his wife, though he worked for a different company from one Yuki worked for.
When he took early retirement, it was an unusual case. Since Karaku cafe opened about 35 years have passed.
Yesterday, we drove a little bit far away to have special coffee.
The owner roasts coffee beans at his cafe. There is an interesting roasted coffee beans, which isi the beans with whiskey flavor. A kind of beans are roasted with whiskey. While they are roasted, alcohol has gone, only flavor remains.
It was an interesting taste. I can’t drink alcohol, so I could enjoy whiskey flavor. On the other hand Yuki seemed not to be satisfied. The flavor made him want real whiskey.
Additionally the owner took early retirement and started his cafe in the “really” rural area. Additionally he used to work for the same company of Yuki used to. Bites of them have some common friends? For the owner they were managers, and for Yuki some of were his colleagues.
How do I get along with my mother who is obstinate and difficult?
consulter (a lady)
I’m in my 50’s and an office worker. I have a trouble about my mother who is demanding and obstinate. She tends to react negatively to what other people say and do. So, she tends to become isolated fromher family and relatives. On the other hand, she often relies on me conveniently and manipulates me as she wants to.
She has no friends who care about her. She has too much pride. When someone doesn’t accept her opinion, she becomes enrage and gets rid of them with really bad words.
In her daily life, she insults athletes who are doing their best, or couples who take a walk happily.
She is also really calculating person, so she is obsessed with money and things. Though she is my mother; she has a bad character.
I understand that, my home environment is different from hers. Her aging brings her worries and irritation. So, I want to be kind to her, but it is really difficult. How do I calmly get along with her?
Advisor Mr. F (writher)
How kind you are. You understand and try to accept her uncomfortable feeling and irritation.
However, even though her bad words are not to you, but to others. When you hear them, you get hurt. When you see her bad character like being calculating her, and being obsessed with money, you get hurt more. The people surrounding her seem to give up communicating with her except you. So, you are the only person whom she relies on in good meaning and bad meaning. You are the only person she can vent her frustration.
However, you don’t need to fall victim to her. You seek for some advice to this column. It means you seem to reach the limit of your patience. You should declare your uncomfortable feelings. How about you distance yourself from your mother? But you should do it with strong determination to prepare thoroughly. Your mother must attack you with really bad words to deny you. You are not wrong. Even considering the difference of environments between two of you, many people who are in the same generation as your mother’s spend their elder lives calmly.
I hope you won’t be hurt much because you care about your mother too much.
-------------------------------------------
Let me say my opinion and feeling.
I really understand this consulter’s feelings. When I was in my 50’s, I had the same, though my mother was not isolated, I think. But I was really worried that how to calmly get along with my mother. She was really selfish. I visited my mother in Tokyo twice a month or more. Before the day I visited, I was usually stressed out. And when I talked to her, though she was selfish, she looked very happy. And after visiting I was satisfied my self to do my job as a daughter. So, in her case, probably she should distant herself from her mother, but, on the other hand she has to face to herself and consider her duties as a daughter.
Now I’m still in my 60’s. But I am really afraid to become such selfish, calculating and being obstinate in the coming years. Because I inherit my mother’s character.
Yesterday I joined in an online meeting. Though all members were Japanese, I was the oldest.
The topics are "Fame".
I'll intorduce my opinions to some interesting questions.
◆How do you feel about fame? Do you think that fame can make people happy?
Fame seems to be one of results. Doing the best and achieving success results in him or her having a fame,or fame is also one thing which has been passed down for generations.
Some people must be happy having fame, others are not, though it applies to anything. However, people tend to want fame including me. Additionally, even if I had fame, I wouldn’t know whether I would be happy or not.
◆What problems can fame bring? What would bother you most about being famous?
Probably they will lose their privacy. People! Probably it will be difficult who I trust, and who I must not trust.
◆Where would you live if you were very famous and had a lot of money?
I would like to live in a condominium with perfect nursing care and entertainment.
About this quesion, I only answered seriously. Other's answeres included positive dreams.
Yesterday, I walked about 4000 steps. As soon as I started walking my right leg felt stiff, but it got better. I will constantly walk every day about 4000 steps. Next week I go to an orthopedic doctor, then I will resume workout at the gym.
Yesterday I kept track of our monthly household accounts. Do you do it? Of course we can’t make ends meet on our pension, we withdraw our savings little by little. Our main daily expenditure is “food and meals”. The food & meals include things which we buy at Costco. Food & meals are one of our entertainment.
Yesterday a new visitor dropped by my home library. She was walking exercise. She wasn’t interested in English picture books, but showed interest to some Japanese books. She is busy in nursing her mother who is 87years old. For a while we talked about nursing elder people.
It was fun.
For a while I won’t be able to goto the gym, so I open my home library in the morning when I don’t need to go to the hospital or clinics.
Usually I open my home library in the evening (it is the same when I used to open my English class), or someone contacts me.
Yuki’s band live of yesterday ended n a high note. Yuki’s tennis mates came to see it. It was a good day. I also could skip cooking. We had lunch outside, then after the live we bought lunch boxes for our dinner at a department store.
Additionally, now the laundry machine is washing his costume (pants, shirts). After it, ironing them is my job.
Today it is Yuki’s band live day. Fortunately, he seems to go through the tunnel of his side effects. I don’t know whether the expression “go through” is suitable or not. In Japanese it is “Nukeru.” Many can see patients use the word, instead of heal. They should go through the tunnel at least every three week.
This time the tunnel was longer than last time,
Though I already wrote, to heal his muscle hot joints) pain, we bought two new mats. (Don’t ask me why we? )
To fix my bad posture I bought a gaming chair at a furniture store. Two new mats, but one gaming chair? He found another one at a used shop. And he bought it.
My back pain is getting better. Today I am going to get acupuncture again. Yuki’s muscle pain is also getting better. He might go playing tennis today. Tomorrow his band is going to perform. Tomorrow’s event is his top priority. So he might stay home today.
To tell the truth it was a little bit tough week for us, even though we went out almost every day.
Yesterday I hold a laughter yoga meeting. At chat time, we told three complaints, troubles or worries.Coincidently, or naturally, all of them complained our pain.
Then we told three things, what we did, what made happy, what we thanked. Coincidently or naturally food or confectionery made us happy. And all of them did gardening.
Yesterday we went to an art museum for a change of pace. Than we expected Yuki’s joint pain? muscle pain is continued. Two of us are suffering such pains, we feel to get really old, even though his pain is not caused by his aging.
Anyway in the morning I hold a laughter yoga meeting. Three elder ladies are going to come. Of course they are older than me.
We will talk with a radiologist at the same hospital. We usually talk with her after Yuki has a CT scan. Of course we also talk with his main doctor of respiratory medicine. It is good for us to talk with and listen to the two doctors.
Today he also has a shot to prevent from decreaseing the number of leukocytes. From his expereicne, after having the shot , he tends to have a slight fever. But he is going to join in his band practis tonight.
Yesterday I could go to nearby temple to copy sutras (syakyou). My back is getting better.
Today we are going to a city garbage center. I decided to discard “Zaisu” which is a chair without legs and used when sitting on the floor. Additionally I also discard other folding chairs which were used at a classroom when I had students.
I discarded many things about my clam school, but I thought I still have some (or many). How many things are stuffed in this small house? (Ms. J knows how small this house is!)
To tell the truth, it is difficult for me to focus on and keep positive minds. I’ll try to do it.
Yesterday two of us and our friend had a wonderful morning at a cafe.
Fortunately it was raining, so we were the first customer there.
In the afternoon I decided to buy a new chair to do PC work. We went to a furniture store. I could order one on net, but I wanted to sit directly. I decided one. A new chair comes next Wednesday (Yuki should
assemble it.) we know the type of the char I bought is called “gaming chair”. There is another type called “working chair”. What is the difference? Both of them seem to be good for our back. The seat of gaming chair is a little bit harder than shear of working char. And probably gaming chair is easier to relax. (It means working chair might better for our back, if we sit for a long hours.)
I do pc work on the chair, but I also read books, so I decided to buy gaming chair type.
Yuki could get the fourth chemotherapy. My back got better. Yesterday I had my back bone adjusted at an orthopedic clinic. For two of us it was a long day yesterday.
Today in the morning we are going to go out with our friend, but we can’t get contact with her yet. She must be asleep. We should call her in 30 minutes. Are we able to go out with her as scheduled?
Yuki has already left home to get chemotherapy. For him today it is a long day. I was going to go with him when he talks with his doctor. But I canceled. Now I am waiting for his call. Yesterday I got a strained back. Fortunately I could take an appointment of my familiar acupuncture clinic. At that time it was difficult to walk and painful. This morning I got better, but I can’t walk as usual. So I canceled to go to Yuki’s big hospital. Instead of it, I will go to see an orthopedic doctor. Unfortunately, nearby orthopedic clinic was closed because the doctor got old. So I need to go another one which is a little far, but I can still drive. It might not be necessary for me to go there, but a weekend will come. Clinics are closed. I am a worrywart, so I will go. The clinic must be crowded. I must feel long until the noon comes.
Yesterday, I joined in an online English conversation meeting.
The topics were "Wisdom". The topics were very difficult for me. Then what the other memebers thought were very diffiernt what I said. It was really interesting. I know I'm the eldest in the member, so I misunderstood the contents of the topic.
I thought again, and wrote my opinion.
◆Can you think of a historical figure who was very wise? What made them wise?
The keyword of this quesion is "wise", not "smart".
I think“wise” means having or showing sound judgment. So probably Buda or SHakamuni must have been wise because he showed what is human beings and spread Buddhism. Or Aristotle was wise, he is called the father of philosophy
An ability to discern and judge properly as to what is true or right, not be controlled by their surroundings made people wise.
◆What are 3 things a person can do to gain more wisdom? Do you do these things?
To listen to others taking a netrual posision, not to be controalled by their surroundings, and to pursue more ideal world, better world, or to help others
Today it is the day o Karaku, I play the piano there. Last week I went there by mistake. Yuki is going to join a jam session again as last Tuesday. There he plays the bass instead of the guitar. Both of us are temporary musicians, aren’t we?
Yesterday we went to a food fair of Hokkaidou at a department store again, then we bought “Zangi” again.
Yesterday I did copying of sutras (syakyou) at home. My brash lose its shape, so I need a new one. I should go to a Japanese calligraphy store. Lucky! I found a reason to go to a department store.
I also finished reading books which I borrowed at the library. Yuki has no tennis practice. He is looking for a hat not baseball cap. Though it is raining, we have some errands so go out today together.
Today it is Mother’s Day. When our daughters and granddaughter came last week, they celebrated Kid’s Day & Mother’s Day. (Which was main?) I am afraid that we don’t visit Yuki’s mother in Tokyo. These days Yuki doesn’t contact with his younger brother. He hesitates or think it troublesome to talk about his condition.
Yesterday I finished drawing postcards, and posted my haiku to haiku club on net. I was like an artist.
It took more time than I thought. Those work made me very satisfied. It was a good day.
It is rainy. Yuki is going to join in jam session. I will draw postcards of this month which are sent to elderly people living in this town.
Yesterday we went to a food fair of Hokkaidou at a department store. First we decided our budget. We had a good shopping, all of them were for our dinner. One croquette, one piece of local fried chicken called Zangi, one big rice ball with boiled listers, and so on.
It was fun.
We constantly go to a clinic near the department store. This food fair is open for two weeks. So probably we will go there again.
I walked about 4000 steps, only in the department store, which is not so big (as Ms. J knows)
Yesterday we went to see wisterias at a private residence where they open their garden. It was wonderful. Then we had lunch outside. There I also had cake. I was too greedy. I know these days I am not good at fresh cream. This morning my stomach is still upset.
I really understand, I can eat “only” small expensive high quality cake. Where?
When?
Additionally it is all right to eat my homemade cake.
Yuki walked about 100,00 steps at a golf course. I walked to the library, so my pedometer showed 100,00 steps.
Yesterday I was going to see wisteria flowers with somebody of my gym mates. But unfortunately I could not find anyone. So I changed my plan to walk to the library after the gym.
Then I dropped by my friend’s beauty salon and got a hair cut (and chatted).
Yesterday, it was not my Karaku day. I noticed that I got to Karaku. It was the first time for me to make a such mistake.
However, it was a good day. I was talking with owner’s couple at the counter table. I was refreshed.
Golden Week vacation finished. Usual days have started.
Usual? Yuki has already left home to play golf. It is the first time for him to play golf this year. (His members planed some but all of them were canceled because of bad weather.)
It is the last day of this Golden Week vacation. It is cloudy, it doesn’t rain yet. Yuki is going to join a jam session in the afternoon, and to go to his band practice at night. For him today is “jazz day”.
For me it is my performance day at Karaku cafe. But today I am under the weather. This English phrase is “perfect”. Because this weather ( changes in the air pressure)causes this trouble of dizziness on me. I hope I will get better until noon.
I complained.
Yesterday, “suddenly” my cable which connects my iPhone and an outlet didn’t work. So I was going to buy new one at a big drugstore nearby on foot. I had a coupon. But Yuki said “it is cheaper to buy at a big electronics store”. So we drove there. We knew same things were sold and using the coupon it was cheaper to buy one at the drugstore
Well, it is all right, he enjoyed browsing the electronics store, and on the way home we dropped by a supermarket.
Additionally in the afternoon I got a minor heat stroke. It was not so hot, but it got very humid suddenly compared the day before yesterday. My heat stroke probably came from humidity.
A new week has started. On the calendar today and tomorrow are still holidays.
I was a good chef for the two days. Yuki was a good tennis coach yesterday. We had a good holiday.
I didn’t have to think about anything unnecessary. Cooking, washing, talking, moving, —-sleeping.
My daughters and I had enough time to talk about our current situations including his disease and our financial situation, and our future plan, while Yuki was playing the game with our granddaughter.
Yesterday, it was rainy. I went out in the morning, but when I came back I felt sick. So I was in bed. It is one good thing of our retirement life. I can line down on bed anytime. Probably my nerves system got in disorder.
This morning I am not so bad. Additionally it is sunny.
Can you guess where I (we) went out yesterday?
We went out to a department store to “check” a bed mattress. One of Yuki’s side effects is muscle pain. Especially after he gets a shot, his muscle seems hurt. So he started checking mattress CM on TV. ( not on net). And he wanted to check some “real” mattress at a “department store”. It means he wants one branded mattress with proven results. The one he wants is advertised by a famous athlete, and used at a famous hotel.
Then, did I buy ones?
No, when we got home, he bought two mattress of its second grade on net. Why I wrote “two” ? Of course the other is mine.
It will come in about two weeks. It will comes before he takes the third chemotherapy.
May has started. We are glad to spend usual days calmly. Yuki’s job is playing tennis to keep his physical power. And for me, probably it is the same. 30 minute workout at the gym, and walking exercise are my job, I wonder. Though job means earning money, these our jobs are paid by the word ‘health’ instead of money.
I try to think like that to keep my motivation.
Yuki gets used to exercising, because (probably) he was a member of football and tennis club when he was a junior high school, and he liked them. For him exercising was usual thing.
On the other hand, when I was a junior high school, I was a member of table tennis club “for a little”. I quitted. Of course I took PE at school as a good student. But I don’t like exercise. Or I am not used to every day exercise.
When he was busy as a businessman, he played tennis once a week at least. Sometimes he gave priority to playing tennis (and joining his band practice) over our family events. Of course it always caused an argument.
But now his habits pay off. In my case I keep practicing the piano. And still now I have an opportunity to play the piano at cafe. This habit pays off.
Yesterday we went o to the library. Then Yuki was in his room quietly. He came down with side effects, but not so bad. We could spend calmly. Today he is getting better. He is still thinking whether he goes playing tennis for a short time today or not.
I organized my English picture book collection. More than half of books are going to be dominated to the library. (I already dominated half of them.) The rest half of them are going to be given to my friend. I read the rest again.
Today it is a holiday. We have no plans including weeding. Weeding season has started!
Yesterday we found one of trees of the hedge in our garden died, though it can’t be helped. We were really surprised at it saying “it happens sometimes”.
We organized and sorted out our paper. When Yuki became 65 years old, he started receiving his pension. Our retirement budget situation went into the second stage. (Additionally his disease changed the plan a lot.) we could discard lots of paper which were mainly documents related to his previous company. Additionally since I closed my business, three years passed. So I could also discard some documents.
It is said it is getting a paperless society. But around us it is still a paper society. On the other hand we receive paper documents more. We could receive some official document on net. But we want to keep such documents with paper. We also prefer reading paper books to digital books. Yuki is all right to read digital newspaper.
So we are going to the library tomorrow some books today.
Yesterday I joined in a sutra copying “Syakyou”. I constantly join in it once a month.
I found an explanation of “Syakyou”.
“Syakyou”is a Buddhist training of copying Buddhist scriptures to another paper. This is one of the religious training. It was allegedly started to make his big dream come true. For ally, people copy sutra with ink and an ink brush.
Additionally , We need to grind ink before doing it. And I always pray healing Yuki’s disease. I am not an official Buddhist. Thankfully the nearby temple accept me. I am really happy.
Formally, people copy sutra with ink and an ink brush.
Yesterday, we could spent as usual. Yuki plays tennis, and I went to the gym, and I also did walking exercise after that.
Yesterday I cooked penne pasta with canned sardines. I started more exercise, and having more fish than meat. But the next blood check is in September. I wonder if I keep such a try. (Probably not).
Yesterday it was a good day. I got the first bamboo shoots from the neighbor. We are asked a mission at Costco o from her. Recently we buy more for others than for ourselves. It is fun. It is in the middle of May for us to go to Costco.
It is sunny today. I have already hung futon out in the sun. Pollen season for me seems finally to finish.
Yesterday Yuki got chemotherapy. This time he took two kinds of medicine. The doctor said side effects may appear stronger. But he takes this phrase positively. As I often write, he says that it is better to get some treatment. We want to keep coexistence with the tumors.
I was going to start doing volunteer reading at the library once a month. But for a while, it is going to be hold every kids vacation: summer, fall, and winter. It is all right. Anyway my volunteer activity has resumed.
Yesterday I bought water proof walking shoes. Everything is ready. I have to do walking exercise more.
From tomorrow the long holiday will start. Some people have already been on vacation since today. For two of us they are usual days. But unfortunately Yuki’s tennis practice and my gym are closed.
I will try to walk more.Yesterday I took a blood check. Unfortunately my cholesterol was the highest for these five years. In the other hand my triglycerides are normal. My arteriosclerosis hasn’t worsened. The doctor said “ do more exercise”.
So I am going to buy another sneakers ( waking shoes) which are waterproof. (Actually it is raining a little.)
Yesterday I joined in an onoine meeting. There the members talked about sugar.
These are what I said.
◆What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the word sugar?
The first thing that comes to mind is sweets, like cake, cookies. Probably Westan confectioneries.
◆Do you think that you eat and drink too much sugar? How could you reduce this?
I think I seldom drink something sweet. When I cook I seldom sugar directly. Because I tend to use pre-cooked sauce or soup stock which are commercial products. They already contain sugar. When I bake sweets. I tend to add half of sugar on the recipe.
On the other hand, I sometimes eat something sweet as snack. Actually, I don’t care how much sugar I take every day.
More importantly, how I should reduce fatty acid. I prefer meat to fish. I prefer pork or beef to chicken. And though it is not an excuse, meat is cheaper than fish, and pork is cheaper than chicken. I have high cholesterol.
◆Where do you usually keep sugar? Have you ever had a problem with ants and sugar?
I keep it in a jar. I haven’t had a problem with ants and sugar. But when it gets hot, I sometimes see an ant line. There is a sunroom in my house. And there are two big planters. I don’t know why, but anyway around them I often see an ant line. So when I find them, I put ant repellents near the planters. For a while they work.
◆What are some things that you can use as a substitute for sugar? Are they as good?
My husband drinks zero calory coke. Probably it is not good. Additionally, I don’t know coke itself is good or bad.
◆Do you ever eat sugary foods for breakfast?
Yes, I sometimes have sugary foods for breakfast, like sweet bread, doughnuts and so on. Especially when we go to a bread shop and buy some bread, most of them are sweet bread, and they are for our breakfast. Or sometimes I have yesterday’s leftover cake for breakfast.
◆Which countries produce the most sugar?
Is it Brasile? I know some Japanese-Brazilian friends. I heard of it from them.
Yesterday I joined an online meeting. It was a really useful meeting. Did I tell you? I got a private certification of an advisor of planing of end of life planing. Through my mother’s nursing and troubleshooting I had experienced a lot of things. I wanted to organize the information and knowledge. A thalli I think I organized my information. But such information always changed. So I decided to join yesterday’s meeting. The certification is issued by a NPO company. I am a member of the NPO. So I can join such meetings.
I’m not sure how I use the certification effectively. I can tell some information to others who want to know. But my mother and my mother in-law lived or lives in Tokyo. The situation in UTSUNOMIYA is different from in Tokyo. Considering the life of two of us, I need more information in Utsunomiya. I might to take action.
Yuki could join in his band practicing at night. The other time he was absent. It was good.
Yesterday, a friend came in the afternoon and, three of us had dinner at a restaurant. First she and I talked. I don’t remember what we were taking. . Anyway when we noticed it got dark, it was dinner time. So three of us went out.
While we were talking, we made crapes. I served her “brandy butter”. I also introduced a set of cards which I used at laughter yoga meeting. She also laughed a lot.
She organizes an amateur senior theater company. Their annual performance was hold the other day in a great success. Her story was fun.
A new week has started. Yesterday I washed winter bed covers. We also organized the closets. We discarded some cardboard boxes. Today it is a garbage day. We separated the different types of trash, and took out burnable garbage before breakfast.
I also baked boiled orange cake. It is burnt a little. But it is all right. It is used almond flour instead of flour. It was tasty.
Today it is sunny and seems to get hot. “We” will continue washing and organizing winter clothes, though Yuki is going to go fishing in the morning.
Yesterday I hold a laughter yoga meeting. This time two women joined. We draw some pictures on dyed eggs which I had boiled to enjoy earlier Easter. Then we played silly card games I bought on the net. Three of us laughed a lot. In the afternoon Yuki also showed an interest to the cards. So we did it. Yuki laughed, too saying who bought such a game! (I bought.)
In the evening I visited a woman nearby who couldn’t join in our laughter yoga meeting today. I handed in the dyed eggs I made.
Yesterday, we did good shopping at Costco. This time we were asked to buy some things there from our friends. On the way home we stopped by there houses. It was also fun.
Recently some foods are sold in small pack at costs I, probably for Japanese people. For example, the big muffins are sold in a set of 6. Until last year they were sold in a set of 12.
This time “tempura tacos” (probably only in Japan), are sold in a pack of 8 pieces. Until last month it was sold in a pack of 24 pieces. We bought one pack. We had half of them for our lunch in our car, and had the rest for our dinner. It was about 1000yen. We did good shopping. Additionally, I don’t become a repeater.
The main purpose is going to see the doctor, but going to Costco seems to be more important purpose. Probably we won’t go to only Costco, because it is a little bit far.
Today Yuki goes play tennis with something strange food Yuki bought at Costco. His tennis mates know why he was absent from tennis meeting yesterday. And some of them are looking forward to food (snack) he brings.
In one and half hour we leave home. It is Costco day, it means I take cognition behavioral therapy at a clinic. I’ll talk to the doctor about my unease of Yuki’s side effects, and so on.
Yesterday a friend came. It is Raster on this Sunday, isn’t it? I prepared some boiled eggs, and while chatting we dyed the eggs. It was fun.
What “Yuki” will find something fun and strange at Costco?
Yesterday both of us did exercise in the morning. I went to the gym, and Yuki went playing tennis.
Yuki talked with his tennis mate about Costco shopping.
His friend recommended:
Almond milk, oat milk, and OIKOS yoghurt made in Japan. I know his wife is health-minded.
On the other hand Yuki recommended:
Alcohols (syouchu), English muffins (my favorite, they are not sweet), bulgogi beef, Mazesoba(probably only in Japan, soulless noodle), and a whole of cheese cake.
Completely different!
In the afternoon, I was not so good, so after taking a bath I went to sleep. What a calm retirement life we have!
After quick dinner, I took up my sportswear. I discarded my old y sewing machine, so I sewed by hand.
These days I sometimes do hand-sawing. The other I sewed an embroidered patch on my jacket to hide a stain.
My husband Yuki and I live in a regional city. Our retirement life has state since 2020. Though Something good, exciting, worried or bad often happens, we try to focus the current situation and spend enjoyable days while living offf our savings little by little carefully.
