Being People-Watched

Kenzo woke up this morning with a bit of a fever and a general malaise, so Osamu went to Saturday soccer club without his big brother for the first time. When Coach Ike called Osamu's name during roll call it was the first time I've seen him raise his hand and confidently, with a strong voice, say, "Here!" When the coach called Kenzo's name Osamu waited a beat and then politely announced, "He's absent."

Osamu does great during practice drills, but during practice matches he gets distracted pretty easily and seems to forget what he's here to do. I did some fatherly sideline cheering to the tune of "Stick to the ball!" and "Get in there!" and even a somewhat nonsensical "Get some kicks!"

Afterward I didn't feel like going straight home so we stopped by the Aeon Mall, which Osamu was excited about. He requested that we park on the roof, and we most certainly did. There was this robot wandering the corridor in the mall. Osamu loves robots. It had a motion sensor of some sort and was trying to avoid bumping into people but Osamu was getting right in his face and making his robotic life a bit difficult.

A lot of the stores are still closed for renovation from the March earthquake, but the game center is going strong. Osamu asked if he could play and of course the answer was yes, but what he doesn't quite realize, or maybe he does (I may not be giving him enough credit), is that papa is not putting money into any game machines. It didn't matter. He loves the games even without the bells and whistles that come with sticking two bucks in the slot.

Osamu is loving life, and I am loving life by watching him love life. He is a loquacious four-year-old who is soaking up every great thing about every day and every moment and I dread the day he loses that. 

Kenzo is different somehow. He has a different energy. I dread his loss of childhood joy just the same, but for him it's somehow different and I can't explain it. He's the big brother, which comes I guess with different underlying parental expectations. 

He had a morning at home with mama while Osamu and I were out. Even though he had a temperature he was reveling in having mama all to himself. 

I lost eight kilograms over the last year, which was documented in my recent yearly health check, so my clothing situation has become an issue. My belts are no longer suitable. They're too big/long. I've been making due by buckling the last hole on the one belt that can still keep my pants up but I've gotta wear a shirt or something that covers it because it looks super awkward. So my afternoon walk today included a stop at Uniqlo to finally procure a belt that fits. I only buy new clothes at least five weeks after it is was necessary to do so.

My walk turned into a bit of a sojourn. I got the new belt and then headed across the street to the supermarket and got one of those cheap canned wine cooler cocktails and did something I love but don't do enough of these days: people watching. I also awkwardly changed belts, which may have led to me being people-watched by someone else. The old belt was unceremoniously tossed in the bin with my empty can.

The days are getting shorter. By the time I was fixin' to head home the sun was setting.

While I was out mama took Kenzo outside to play with his water gun. He didn't have much energy but, being six years old, he's compelled to play no matter what.

I rolled up soon after, as the evening sky was bursting with intensity.

Mr. Chihuahua (not his real name), the nice old guy who walks his chihuahua Sakura-chan by our house every morning and evening, and who has a record of bringing us various things, gave Eri some mushrooms he picked in the mountains recently. He even shared with her his recommendation on how to prepare them. So it was a mushroom-palooza tonight. He gave her a huge bag. My pre-dinner appetizer was wild mushrooms with ponzu and ginger.

Miso soup with dinner was full of, you guessed it, wild mushrooms.