All Things Must Pass

Saturday mornings belong to soccer. Kenzo and Osamu love it, and they’re both getting so good. Kenzo, especially, is coming into his own. Less hesitant, more willing to get into the thick of things. He’s still careful, but the fear of getting hurt is fading, little by little. It’s wonderful to see his confidence grow.

After soccer, we headed straight for the coast, stopping at a supermarket to grab some lunch. The boys know the routine... eat first, then play. That seaside park has become one of our favorite spots, a place where time slows down just enough to feel it. It's also super windy all the time so it's a great spot for flying kites.

But the main event today was a trial horseback riding lesson. Osamu was all in from the start. He never seems to hesitate with new things, just jumps right in, full of excitement. Kenzo, on the other hand, was nervous. He gave it a shot, but in the end, decided that horseback riding wasn’t for him. Not today, at least. I get it. Horses are big, and climbing on one is no small thing. Even adults feel that hesitation. 

Mr. Sato, the instructor, was patient and super knowledgeable, which made it all the more tempting to sign up. But after sitting through the sales pitch, Eri and I decided to pass for now. Soccer and Friends Club are enough, and horse riding school isn’t exactly cheap. Maybe another time.

It all wrapped up with a sunset drive home. Mama had dinner waiting, and the boys, exhausted, barely made it through bath time before collapsing into bed. Even Kenzo, who usually takes forever to fall asleep, was out like a light.

Somewhere on the drive, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass came on. That song has this quiet, gentle inevitability to it, a reminder to me that everything, both the good and the hard, keeps moving. Watching the boys today, I felt it. Kenzo is growing braver, Osamu keeps charging ahead, and these long, full days together won’t last forever. That’s the way of things. They’ll outgrow soccer, they’ll move on from their favorite parks, they’ll find new passions, friends, things that will replace mama and papa. And one day, even if it seems impossible now, they’ll stop needing me to be the one driving them home at sunset.

But today, they do. So for now, I’ll savor these moments, knowing that just like everything else, they too will pass.

And spring is sprouting.

All things must pass

None of life's strings can last

So I must be on my way 

And face another day