CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON

I have no doubt that now is the best time to visit or live in Japan. We are in the midst of Sakura no Hanami. Literally meaning: Cherry Blossom Viewing Season. Recently at a dinner out, I mentioned how surreal and interesting it is that an entire nation gets so excited about blooming trees. One of the guests explained that for the Japanese, the Sakura is a metaphor for life. “It is beautiful and fleeting”.  Yes, this is dinner party talk in Japan. Personally, I think Sakura no Hanami must also mean: Leave Your Pants at Home Girls. I don’t know if it’s due to the season or the fact that the temperatures have gone up by 5 degrees, but there are a whole lot of blooming thighs getting viewed too:

During this time, everywhere I go, everything is sakura related. There are desserts, teas, foods all incorporating the blooming cherry blossoms. It is difficult not to feel like an inspired photographer.

TWILIGHT

The increased time I am spending with teenagers compounded by the fact that I am now pushing my way through the 3rd Twilight book has made me realize: I hate teenagers. Maybe hate is too strong a word. Some teenagers, make me gag. The truth is most of the kids I’ve been working with are sweet and innocent. There are a few “shining stars” even. But I have come across one girl who I swear, could be the focus of Bad Seed 2. Someone did her a real dis-service and made her feel too special. Anyhow, whenever I come across kids who are so comfortable being defiant to authority figures, I’ll admit, I get a little scared and then, very quickly, I get thoroughly disgusted. I told Cliff, this is why I can’t work on long-term projects. It doesn’t matter what you do, there is ALWAYS going to be that one asshole you can’t get away from. Anyhow, getting back to Twilight. I can’t believe the author has spent so much of the book with bullshit writing like:

• Him: I love you
• Her: No! I love you!
• Him: But I love you more
• Her: Impossible! I love YOU more!
• Him: I want you so much
• Her: Then bite me already
• Him: No! [insert gagging noise]

At this point, I just want everyone to either die or go live in Alaska. I haven’t seen the films yet and now I have no desire to. I’ve been around people like this in person, and call me “bitter married woman” all you want, but it hurts my eyeballs when they look in the back of my head that long.

PRESERVATION

My latest attempt to re-apply a new skin to my phone has failed. When I reached into my pocket only to find a sticky, rolled up tube that was my new iPhone screen skin, I realized: You can’t be a born-again virgin. Maybe it’s the cherry blossoms. Maybe it’s the sake, I don’t know. I see the falling and the fallen petals all around me and realize, no one is desperately trying to re-attach those things to their branches again. You have to enjoy the beauty as long as it lasts, and then move on. Like my yogis always tell me, “Be Present”.

Until next time…