Monday May 31, 2010
Malibu, California
Delightful Summer Weather
Today is my first Memorial Day weekend in 3 years. It is good to be back in the States and celebrate holidays that are important to Americans. While driving to Malibu Bluff's park this morning for playtime with Skipper and Yuki and listening to AM radio for the news which was depressing by the way (the situation at the Gulf, the Israeli raid on the flotilla carries supplies to Gaza, and of the many men and women killed while serving for America in Iraq and Afghanistan), I learned about the history of Memorial Day. I'm embarrassed to admit I did not know how it got started until today.
Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, was enacted during the civil war, where women would visit the graves of the fallen Confederate soldiers, clean the graves and decorate it to honor them. But the women soon realized that their were unattended graves of fallen Union soldiers. So to honor them and peace, they also cleaned and decorated the graves of the unknown Union soldiers. So this is how Decoration Day started. After World War I, it was renamed Memorial Day to honor all the men and women who gave their lives to serve the country.
It seems "wrong" to me now, that for this solemn holiday, where many men and women are in dangers way serving our country, that we "celebrate" Memorial Day with barbecues and beer. So, I'm lighting incense from Bhutan today to bring comfort to those who have died for my country.
While catching up on a funny blog I've been reading Gaijinwife, I found out that Kathy Sugio, a mother of four children passed away this weekend after a 6 year battle with breast cancer. I accidentally found Gaijinwife's blog which is about a gaijin (foreign) wife (a kiwi) married to a Japanese man and living in the countryside of Japan. I've met many and I mean many foreign men married to and dating Japanese women but during the 3 years I lived there have not met a single foreign woman married or dating a Japanese man. Thus I found gaijinwife's blog to be hilarious and educational. Kathy, an American, was also married to a Japanese man and was raising her 4 young children in Tokyo while battling breast cancer at a young age. Her blog Mikan Days is a testimonial to her courage and her love for her family and Japan. Her blog taught me how life can be fragile yet how full it can be with courage and with love from family and friends. It also taught me another side of Japan, the Japan that can be there when one is in trouble. It seemed her whole neighborhood in Tokyo was looking after her and her children. I will be making a small donation to her family via her blog so that her kids have the opportunity to experience Kathy's culture. Although I do not know her, through her blog I learned more about life and about Japan. For that I am grateful. Rest in peace, Kathy.
And finally, I've decided to take control of my health this weekend. Since I've moved back to the States, I've been suffering from one allergy after the other which has made working and exercising for that matter a chore. The latest resulted in two emergency room visits in one week! Last Wednesday nite I had to call the paramedics as my throat was closing up on me while I was eating corn soup. So now I have allergies to corn or maybe the dairy (don't know). And then yesterday, while kicking off my exercise routine and attempted an one hour hike with Yuki-chan, I got bitten by a rogue bee like thing on my shoulder which resulted in my whole neck swelling up so another visit to the ER.
So what am I doing? I am doing a detox for at least a week. It's quite easy. Basically, I have 2 shakes made with banana and Paleocleanse detox powder a day plus one regular meal. It was recommended by my friend Sandra. For the one meal I have a day, I have to avoid allergenic foods. Basically, I cannot eat anything with gluten, strawberries, oranges, corn,shellfish, dairy, alcohol, and allergenic nuts like peanuts. For oils, I can only have olive oil and avocado oil. So, for example, for today, I'm having grilled salmon with rice and sauteed watercress. After I finish the powder, I'm going to try and only eat non allergenic foods for awhile and see how I feel. I'm also going to start my hiking (with insect repellent) as I have not done any, that is zero exercise, since being back. Wish me luck!
The Detox Powder which is loaded with herbs
The hike I attempted with Yuki-chan. I found out Yuki-chan hates exercising, so she will not be accompanying me on any more hikes. Skipper loves hikes but is too old unfortunately. This hike is not the most scenic but gets your heart rate up. Basically, I plan on going uphill for 30 min to start with and then return, building to a one hour uphill hike.
Yuki-chan not liking the hike
The fire road (trail)
I don't know what these are called but we always see them after the "wet" season. Quite stunning actually.
But up close, not so pretty.
I got bitten by the bee like thing right after taking this photo of the marine layer moving over Zuma Beach. To Yuki-chan's delight, we headed back quickly after the sting to my neck.
Enjoyed your blog as always. I just wanted to comment, that I personally think it’s fine to “celebrate” Memorial Day with BBQ and Beer, if one chooses to do so with respectable intention behind it. After all those who have fallen fought for us, so that we can continue to enjoy our freedom, the priviledges of this life in our country and to be safe. Thus enjoying the day with BBQ and beer, if one chooses to enjoy it in such a way with gratitude to those who made it possible to have these moments can be perhaps a great way to honor them. Thus as we say good-byes to loved ones at their memorial services, it is often referred to ‘celebrating’ their life, as we cherish and give gratitude to the legacy they’ve left us.
The key is the intention, and there’s no right or wrong in the “how”. It’s like when I first found out that nisei and sansei here “celebrate” yakudoshi. They throw a party to ward off bad luck. I was shocked, but understood their logic and intention of why they greeted yakudoshi that way. Growing up in Japan, when someone is in their yakudoshi years, he/she keeps a low profile and don’t make any major decisions nor act on them since things may go wrong during yakudoshi, let alone ‘celebrate’!! Two very different ways, but the intentions were both in regards to the well being of the individual going through yakudoshi.
I think Yuki-chan is putting on a big act.
That pillow/couch/bed dwelling princess is a master manipulator !
Thank you for the mention 🙂
Great pics on your blog. Shouldn’t be looking when have just started diet but. You now have me craving terimisu. Not good.
Good luck with the detox and heres hoping there’s no more ER visits on the near or distant future for you.
Katy.
I found this page because I was randomly looking my mother’s name up on google, it’s Mother’s Day and I was just thinking of her:)
I am Marie and one of Kathy’s 4 children. You might not even remember about her blog since it’s been 5 years since her death but that is fine. I just wanted to thank you so much for writing about her and your donation:)