Jan
New Year
I prodded my sleeping Japanese girlfriends from deep sleep after a wild night, to go watch the first sunrise of the year. We climbed a nearby hill in the biting cold of pre-dawn, and stood waiting for the golden beginning. We tried to capture the spirit of a Japanese new year.
Still dark, we stood facing east on a ground wet with dew, shivering, laughing at our ridiculous sleep deprived high. We articulated the 108 “booohng”s of the tolling New Year temple bells to cleanse our sins of the past year. We were ready for a brilliant dawn.
What we didn’t take into account was this was San Francisco. Just as a sliver of hope was about to rise from the east, a thick fog came from the south and veiled the whole city. We weren’t sure if the dawn took place at all. Maybe the sun took a break this time around.
Our hearts were filled though. On our walk back home, the air was warmer and our friendship stronger. I feel it’s going to be a good year.
what did you dream of????
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:52 ameggplant?
All the best in 2007 to you and your loved ones, Ayumi.
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:08 pm/Vera
What a beautiful way to bring in the new year, Ayumi!
Mine was… interesting.
A couple of friends and I ran into the cold waters of Locarno Beach(Vancouver, Canada) on New Year’s Day. There was an official “polar bear swim” somewhere else (not so “polar” since water doesn’t freeze where I am, but still fairly cold)… we were going to be late for that so we decided to do our own!
Nothing like a cold shock to the system to celebrate the new year!
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:38 pmSophia; I like that! Ooo!
Erik; nooo,,, i got shaken awake and instantly forgot my dream. But I decided it’s good luck to be shaken awake on the 1st of January.
Thank you Vera. Good fortunes to you too!
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:33 am