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Resourceful and Mischievous

Every year it happens. Sendai weather tricks you into thinking spring is coming, then bam, the snow and hail return. It was freezing today. The wind has been biting for days. This is always the last hurrah for Sendai winter. As I write, sleet taps against my office window, blending with the steady hum of the air conditioner set to a comfortable 22 degrees. I am already picturing our next driveway barbecue and camping trip when all this cold malarky ends. Okay no more weather info I try to avoid the topic of the weather because it's like beating around the bush... of life.

I did not take a single picture today, except with my mind. But I did make a helluva great thermos of coffee.

While Osamu played soccer, Kenzo and I made our usual stop at the Yamazawa supermarket across the parking lot. He gets a snack, and I get my complimentary green tea. The rule is simple. One hundred yen or less. There are pricier options, but plenty of good choices within the limit. Kenzo picked something that came with a toy. It was 280 yen. I told him sorry, bud, too much for snack time. He whined and complained. He can be really good at being super annoying. I used the moment to practice staying calm.

Later, we went to the mall since it was too cold to play outside. The boys love asking if we can park on the roof. The answer is always yes, unless snow makes the ramp impassable like it did last month. That was wild. The view from up there is incredible. Downtown’s big buildings rise in the distance. Mountains stretch endlessly, still covered in snow. Today, despite the cold, the sky was clear, and the peaks forming the border between Miyagi and Yamagata glowed with stony, icy brilliance.

The boys were disappointed that the Pokémon game machine was out of order. But they are nothing if not resourceful and mischievous. They found ways to entertain themselves for over two hours while I loitered in Daiso, did some grocery shopping, chatted with the smartphone sales folks, and dozed on a comfy mall sofa.

Not a single picture, but moments like these have a way of sticking. Quite often, you don't realize the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

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