Saturday July 20, 1991
11:49 In Oita, I buy the shodo inkwells with the money from Washizuka-sensei. They are on sale so I buy two. Later I notice a 320 yen charge on the receipt that I can't figure out. As I'm walking on the shopping street, I notice that an old restaurant is being torn down. They've thrown a lot of traditional decorations in the back of the truck, including a rain hat that I want. Desire imbues me with sudden boldness. "Sumimasen. Kore wa gomi desu ka?" And I get it. I carry it around with me all day and fall in love with it. (Later, when I get home, I discover that it won't fit into any box. So I clean it up and hang it on the wall for the the new teacher, Dianna.) Walk up to Ted Mack's apartment and leave my remaining picante sauce for him.
Go to Tokiwa to buy a small blue Totoro like Rachel's. Then I fall in love with the medium-sized one. I still have money left over from my inkwell budget and so I buy it. Buy tea ceremony sweets.
13:59 I am supposed to meet Jean-Marc Hakim at the train station at 15:00. This is my last chance to get the books I lent him back. I have no more shopping to do. I'm tired. I want to go home. I buy some pastry and eat it at Tom and Huck where it's air-conditioned and I can sit down. I wander to Rizumi Records. I wander back. I wait and wait. At 15:00, no Jean-Marc. I miss the 15:07 train and by then I am fuming and pacing. Around 15:20, I see him, get my books back, and say I must catch a train. I leave abruptly. Fortunately the 15:32 is sitting in the station. I get on, sit down, and go through my books.
17:19 Buy groceries at Toyomi including some umeshu.
Posted by M Sinclair Stevens
July 30, 2002
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Desire imbues me with sudden boldness.