life in the old lane

Carlton didn’t do Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or birthdays. But he did remember anniversaries. December 30 is the day he considered our anniversary. This makes it year 47.

We had a great run. And I’m still doing pretty well running along on my own. For that: thank you, Carlton.

He’s still part of my life. I do things like contest a $1.63 incorrect charge on my Asylum bill because he would absolutely expect me to. AA is still part of my life too. I don’t go to meetings anymore, but the principles are stuck in my head. Every time I see a penny on the ground, I have to pick it up. I figure he put it there to test me. Of course, pennies are becoming extinct. I may have to start picking up nickels. Inflation.

Here’s something else that remains true: I made Carlton’s life way more interesting. He had a very limited comfort zone, and I kicked him right out of it—big time. In return, he provided me with a degree of safety and security I would never have provided for myself. That comfort zone of his, which I did have to honor to some degree, continues to put boundaries around my own excesses.

We were a good team.

Still are.

A hui hou.

Nothing to report today. I did not go anywhere interesting, meet anyone famous, or solve any problems of global importance. I remained upright, fed, and reasonably content. That counts.

It’s time to start wrangling all my trip photos.

Spent the morning showing the orchids some love. Spent the afternoon in my comfy chair with the heating pad. I haven’t stepped outside the Asylum since my return. I should probably fix that soon.

The LastTripMaybe After Action Report.

1. 1. If my health holds up, this was not my last trip. When I started out, I wasn’t sure. “Safe” things like cruises or Amtrak journeys don’t count as trips. They are vacations.
   2. I can only do one activity per day.
   3. I can still negotiate Tokyo public transit. 
   4. Even large airports remain doable.
   5. When they say, “Now boarding passengers who need extra time,” that means me.
      Deploy the cane and get on first. No more waiting for “Now boarding Group 7.”
   6. This might be the last trip with my computer and without wheeled luggage. 
   7. I still enjoy traveling alone. 
      But, I would not want to spend 6 weeks in Kona if I didn’t have dear friends there. 
   8. Tokyo in August almost killed me.
      Tokyo in late December was doable.
      Takeaway: Avoid hot weather. This is not negotiable.
   9. I still only need 3 pairs of underdrawers. 
   10. Don’t hesitate to play the old card. (See #5).

Still not functioning perfectly well. Actually, I doubt that I’ll ever function perfectly well again. So let us say that I am not functioning up to expectations. Yet. 

Haven’t gone for an outside walk yet. And I should do an hour of yoga. But I did get the laundry done.

For the record, the trip was 17,692 miles total, with the trip from Japan to Dulles Airport being 6,782 miles.

Progress report: Unpacked. Most things put away. Laundry not yet. Mail not opened. Junk mail tossed unopened. I don’t think I damaged anything. Yet. That’s about it.

I had my backpack and jackets and didn’t feel like chasing one down. Not sure I’d be brave enough to get into one anyway—assuming I could catch it.

According to the weather report, it snowed here this morning.
I didn’t see any snow.
I don’t need to see any snow.

Easy trip back to The Asylum. Slept well on the 12-hour flight. Metro and Uber home—no problem. And one good thing about The Asylum: you can be gone for 60 days, and when you return, you know everything will be fine.

It was a great trip. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Oh yeah, Merry Christmas!

Yesterday evening, when I was out on “dinner quest” I ran into these stairs. Complete with a parent, a baby, and a stroller. I wasn’t ready to “Cross the Rainbow Bridge.” So, I looked for dinner on level 1B, having no desire to discover the wonders of level 1F.

 It’s about 3:15. And I am at the airport. Waiting. I have totally enjoyed this trip. I am hopeful that as long as I ACCEPT and ADAPT I might have a few more trips in my future.  

Being a NPC in Tokyo has been great for my mental confidence. I know that I am not as mentally nimble as I once was. But I can still process data albeit slowly.

I took refuge in the entryway to Chanel during an extra-heavy period of rain. The guards kindly allowed me to stand off to the side. They even held the door open so I could take a picture of the Chanel Xmas tree. They did not let me in the door, however. 

Thank You, Chanel.

So now that I’m able to get around without completely humiliating myself, it must be time to leave.

The hope today was to get a photo of Mt. Fuji, since it was crystal clear. I did catch some glimpses of Fuji from the train, but no photos. 

When the train reached the end of the line, I learned that the really fine views were from the summit of Mt. Iwadono, advertised as an “easy” forty-minute hike.

A hike in Hokkaido last summer taught me that my definition of easy and the Japanese definition of easy are not remotely the same. So I skipped the hike.

You know you’re off the tourist track when you find wanted posters. Presumably, visitors aren’t supposed to know there may be actual criminals in Japan.

Last night I went to see more illuminations.

There are always stairs. And where you need to be or want to be is always at the top of a flight of stairs.

Played the old card tonight. I decided to stay in. 

It was a long day. 

that…

I had pictured a nice, civilized little train ride to Yokohama. I’ve been there several times. No big deal.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.

I got on the right train. A few stops along, the announcements suddenly sounded different—and everyone got off. That seemed like a strong hint, so I got off too. Everyone lined up neatly on another platform, so I did that as well.

Then I noticed a sign saying the next train would be ten minutes late. Unheard of. About fifteen minutes later, a train arrived—stuffed. Truly stuffed. Another human could not possibly fit. But somehow, we all got squished on anyway.

Everyone was wearing puffy winter jackets. It was unreal. I felt oddly cushioned and strangely safe. I couldn’t move anything. I happened to have my phone in my hand, so I managed to take exactly one photo—of the floor.

A couple of stops later, I was pushed off the train with the crowd.

I got back on and continued to Yokohama Station. But I could not, for the life of me, find my way out of the station. Every attempt led directly into yet another shopping mall. Eventually, I declared ENOUGH, got back on the train, and returned to the hotel.

A different kind of adventure.

Japan is a weird and wonderful place. 

Last night, I did make it out to see some of the “illuminations,” as they’re called here.

And not all the illuminations are outside.

Or not.

You never know.

Not only did I make it to Tokyo. But, I made it out of bed this morning.

After breakfast, I decided to take advantage of the nice warm weather.

Soon, I discovered a market/food vending area.

And then I went to Ueno Toshogu. Which has been around since 1651. Rather impressive. Considering all that Tokyo has been through in the last 400 years, a wooden building would still be standing.

And now, at 7PM, I find myself tired. Approaching exhausted. And I wonder what I’ll do tomorrow? 

Still in Guam. Plane leaves at 7:20PM. Getting me to Tokyo at 10ish tonight. Then depending on how I feel, I will either get a taxi or take to monorail/train. Either way, it will be challenging to my jetlagged self.

Maybe an update from Tokyo later today or not.

If you think you’re having fun you are having fun.