Kaerimashita

When I left a couple of weeks ago, I was bordering on mental case status and I am happy to report that I have returned only marginally so.  *grin*  It was a wonderful change of scenery, figuratively and literally.  Can't get further from the cornfields than this, can you?

Bamboo forest

Molly knocked herself out planning our stay.  Activities ranged from a day at her high school festival, an overnight stay at a mountaintop Buddhist temple, a weekend trip to a seaside onsen resort, shopping in Osaka, three days with family friends and various hostings by co-workers, Molly's tea ceremony teacher and English class.  Nonstop fun, dotted with relaxing times despite the hectic schedule.  The best part?  Spending some time with Molly again...and getting a peek into her multifaceted life.

   

We dragged in on Wednesday night, completing our 24-hour journey from Japan by means of car, ferry, plane, plane, cab and car.  When my head hit the pillow, I was sure I would sleep for a week, but awoke yesterday morning, a mere 4 hours later, at 4:30 a.m.  After a quick trip to the grocery store and the post office to pick up all that vacation mail, I decided to unpack everything.  Suitcases and totes dropped in various rooms, I sorted clothes into mounds of laundry, piled purchases & gifts on the dining room table and set items Molly sent home with us on the stairs for eventual packing.  With unusual energy, I weeded through the mail, wrote checks to be sent, stacked magazines and catalogs for eventual perusal.  So energized!  And then I hit the wall.  Usually I don't feel the effects of jet lag for a few days but I instantly recognized the hit-over-the-head-with-a-hammer feeling of needing a nap...immediately.

At which point, the realty office called to schedule a showing.  In an hour.  Home with a thud!

I took hundreds of photos and am waiting to integrate more that will be forthcoming soon from Molly and friends.  I'll try to share a few while I get myself back into a routine here over the next few days, between naps and blog reading skimming.  (People, you sure have been posting with a vengeance since summer's over and the kids are back in school.)  Right now, however, I'm feeling the overwhelming urge to plant my face in a pillow. 

Wish I was back here again.  Note the ocean breeze blowing the curtain.  *sigh*

Comments

[africankelli]

Wowie! So glad to have you back and can't wait to see your pics. I hope those suckers by the house after the herculean effort it must have took to gather your remaining energies!

[Nancy]

Welcome back. Your trip sounds wonderful and exhilarating; please put up photos when you can.

Sorry you had to ready the house for show feeling like that. I didn’t fly around the world and I want to crawl into one of those cozy cocoons and nap the day away!

[sandy]

Jan, those pictures are stunning! How gorgeous! I can't wait to see the rest!
Hope you make it through the day. One hour at a time, sometimes.
Take a nap!

[blackbird]

Welcome back!
I can't wait to read about it all...

[Kay]

Welcome home! Can't wait to see/hear what you saw/did!

xo Kay

[Lily]

Welcome back! Sounds wonderful - but a little exhausting. The old 'I need a holiday to recover from my holiday' syndrome! Enjoy your rest - am gagging to see more Japan photos!

[Geri Barr]

Great to have you back Jan! I missed you. Glad you had a great time with M.
Geri.

[Cindra]

Welcome back! Hope you catch up to "normal" soon.

[Kathy]

Welcome home, Jan! Must.get.to.Japan.

[Tonya R]

Welcome back. Glad you had a fabulous trip and hope you get readjusted quickly. Looking forward to the pics!

[molly!]

You're not the only one who's tired, me too! I have a cold now so I am spending the weekend in watching tv and enjoying all that yarn you brought. So... did they buy the house?

[Carole]

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Rest up and then come tell us more.

[Cara]

Glad you had such a wonderful trip! Hope re-entry gets easier!

[Kathie]

Welcome home! Get rested up and then I can't wait to see your pictures and hear about the trip.

And I hope the right home buyer comes along and makes this transition a smooth one for you. Soon.

[joyce]

Your pictures brought me right back to Japan. Good luck with selling the house.

[cindy]

Sounds wonderful. Can't wait to see the goodies you brought back!

[Kathy]

Okaerinasai! Japan is a wonderful place to visit in the fall. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. I love the down comforters in your photo, very natsukashi! A nice dreamy way to stay warm in cold winters without central heating...I remember the days :-)

[Scoutj]

Wow....looks like a fabulous time!

[Ohio Jodi]

Neat bed rolls on the floor. Was that your own room or shared with other visitors? Great pix

[Wanda]

I have never seen pictures of a bamboo forest before. I love their shape of stacked layers.
I hope the people from the showing liked your house, or better yet put in an offer.

[Janet]

Glad to see you are back ! I can't wait to read more about your trip. You are so lucky to be able to visit such an interesting destination.

[Loretta]

Welcome back! I'd forgotten about your trip and thought for sure you'd sold your house and were moving.

I like the bedroll room. How much easier life would be if we all slept in a row like peas!

[Janice]

Sounds like you had a wonderful visit. I look forward to reading more about it!

[Lisa]

Welcome home, Jan! Looking forward to seeing your beautiful pictures and hearing about your adventures.

[monica]

sounds like a wonderful trip! Show us some more pictures please!!

[Di]

Looks like you had a great trip! I look forward to seeing some more photos soon and know the jet lag feeling - a week after coming back from the US I am still suffering the not sleeping till 2am and struggling to get out of bed in the mornings! I have just drunk a hot chocolate in the hope all the warm milk helps!