Tokyo (by madstatler) I just want to go to Japan. I want to make sure my favorite places in Tokyo are okay. I want to check on Hakone. Why is it impossible to get news about Hakone and Lake Ashi? I’m this close to learning Japanese just so I can find out what is going on over there. I am aware of the fact that my overwhelming concern about Japan, a country I only spent two weeks in, is rooted largely in my fondness for the things I saw and did there. It’s a very selfish concern, rooted in my love of the things I discovered and experienced there. I also feel a great deal of compassion for the people there and the trials they have endured and will continue to endure for months to come. But I just keep thinking about the places I went and the beauty I saw, and I am just desperate to know that all of that is still there. That it is okay, and that it will still be there, just as I remember it, when I return. Because I will go back to Japan. And the more I worry about the state of the country, the more I consider the idea that I don’t just want to visit next time. I want to stay, maybe for a month, maybe for a few months. I don’t know. I just really want to go back. Really really.

Tokyo (by madstatler)

I just want to go to Japan. I want to make sure my favorite places in Tokyo are okay. I want to check on Hakone.

Why is it impossible to get news about Hakone and Lake Ashi?

I’m this close to learning Japanese just so I can find out what is going on over there.

I am aware of the fact that my overwhelming concern about Japan, a country I only spent two weeks in, is rooted largely in my fondness for the things I saw and did there. It’s a very selfish concern, rooted in my love of the things I discovered and experienced there.

I also feel a great deal of compassion for the people there and the trials they have endured and will continue to endure for months to come. But I just keep thinking about the places I went and the beauty I saw, and I am just desperate to know that all of that is still there. That it is okay, and that it will still be there, just as I remember it, when I return.

Because I will go back to Japan. And the more I worry about the state of the country, the more I consider the idea that I don’t just want to visit next time. I want to stay, maybe for a month, maybe for a few months. I don’t know. I just really want to go back. Really really.

So today was Lane’s 16th birthday! When we got home from all the events of the day (including the Joan Baez concert at Interlochen, which was definitely good, but not totally my cup of tea), we got out the red velvet ice cream cake from Cold Stone, and we sang! Lane had a bit of trouble with the candles at the end there, but, bless her, she got them taken care of.

Wednesday night, a bunch of us went to Interlochen, and we saw Kenny Loggins in concert. I tend to like Kenny Loggins; I remember listening to his greatest hits album in the car with Mom and Rachel a lot. I was pretty excited to hear “Danger Zone” and “Back to Pooh Corner” and “I’m Alright” last night. We had GREAT seats. Jordan, Loren, Ryan, Jess and I were in the middle of the front row; I was seriously directly in front of his microphone. Kim, John, Lee, Margaret and Walker were directly behind us in the second row. The concert was awesome; Loggins is a great performer. He had everyone up and dancing by the end of the show. And the highlight? I definitely got to touch his hand. (Loren touched his hand, like, twice, and she got to hit the hands of three other people or something, but I got to touch Kenny Loggins’ hand and the hand of his bassist, so I’m good.) I called Mom to tell her about it the moment we got out of the theater. It was all very exciting, and I had a great time. And we’re going back to Interlochen tonight to see Joan Baez. Should be a great show!

Wednesday night, a bunch of us went to Interlochen, and we saw Kenny Loggins in concert. I tend to like Kenny Loggins; I remember listening to his greatest hits album in the car with Mom and Rachel a lot. I was pretty excited to hear “Danger Zone” and “Back to Pooh Corner” and “I’m Alright” last night.

We had GREAT seats. Jordan, Loren, Ryan, Jess and I were in the middle of the front row; I was seriously directly in front of his microphone. Kim, John, Lee, Margaret and Walker were directly behind us in the second row.

The concert was awesome; Loggins is a great performer. He had everyone up and dancing by the end of the show. And the highlight? I definitely got to touch his hand. (Loren touched his hand, like, twice, and she got to hit the hands of three other people or something, but I got to touch Kenny Loggins’ hand and the hand of his bassist, so I’m good.) I called Mom to tell her about it the moment we got out of the theater. It was all very exciting, and I had a great time. And we’re going back to Interlochen tonight to see Joan Baez. Should be a great show!

Just around the river bend.

That title is totally for my sister. I couldn’t help thinking of her yesterday when the Wagner family took me canoeing.

The whole lot of us drove down to the Manistee River and rented canoes and kayaks for the afternoon. John and I, Jess and Ryan, and Lee and Margaret paired off into canoes, and everyone else took a kayak. We took a two-hour trip down the upper half of the river, and it was gorgeous. It was a beautiful day, with lots of sun and comfortable temperatures (okay, the water was sort of cold, but I’ve been in worse). I even got a bit sunburnt.

I didn’t get any pictures of the event; I was a bit concerned about the possibility of tipping, and there was no way I was risking my camera like that, so I left it in the car. It’s alright, though. It was a great time.

We visited Arch Rock on our tour of Mackinac. It’s this natural limestone archway found on the edge of the island. Sadly, it probably won’t be there anymore twenty years from now, because of erosion and such. I’m glad I got the chance to see it. Apparently, such formations are really rare in limestone.

We visited Arch Rock on our tour of Mackinac. It’s this natural limestone archway found on the edge of the island. Sadly, it probably won’t be there anymore twenty years from now, because of erosion and such. I’m glad I got the chance to see it. Apparently, such formations are really rare in limestone.

There are no motor vehicles allowed on the island, except for a few emergency vehicles and, during winter, snowmobiles for anyone who has to commute to Mackinac City. People get around by bicycle, mostly. There are also lots of horse-drawn carriages that take people on tours and function as taxis.

There are no motor vehicles allowed on the island, except for a few emergency vehicles and, during winter, snowmobiles for anyone who has to commute to Mackinac City. People get around by bicycle, mostly. There are also lots of horse-drawn carriages that take people on tours and function as taxis.

This is one of the massive houses on Mackinac Island. A lot of the houses and churches on the island are gorgeous—and huge. It seems like more of a resort area than a residential place; lots of people visit for short periods of time, just to take in the state park, enjoy the carriage tours and eat the island’s famous fudge.

This is one of the massive houses on Mackinac Island. A lot of the houses and churches on the island are gorgeous—and huge. It seems like more of a resort area than a residential place; lots of people visit for short periods of time, just to take in the state park, enjoy the carriage tours and eat the island’s famous fudge.

That is Lake Huron. I got to cross ‘see a Great Lake’ off my list this week! I saw Lake Michigan from the plane on my way in, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to count that. Sure, I saw it, but it’s not quite the same as being right next to it. We were at Lake Huron on Tuesday to catch a ferry to Mackinac Island.

That is Lake Huron. I got to cross ‘see a Great Lake’ off my list this week! I saw Lake Michigan from the plane on my way in, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to count that. Sure, I saw it, but it’s not quite the same as being right next to it.

We were at Lake Huron on Tuesday to catch a ferry to Mackinac Island.

Another day on Long Lake.

Another day down in Traverse City. Today was pretty peaceful. We got up and went to church, and then Loren, her cousin Walker, and I went to another Film Festival flick, and then I got back to the Wagner house for dinner.

The Wagner family is attending Traverse City West Side Community Church, a nondenominational church with a pretty sizeable congregation. The pastor was really entertaining; he was dynamic and lively and all over the place, and I actually really enjoyed his sermon. Apparently, the church provides the sermons online for download, and, after today’s cliffhanger, I’m definitely going to catch next week’s.

The movie was Patrik, Age 1.5. We saw it at the opera house, which was totally stunning, even if the seats reminded me a little too much of the kabuki theater in Japan (no leg space! I was having flashbacks, Al!). I tried to get pictures, but my camera really couldn’t do the space justice.

The film itself was about a Swedish gay couple who wanted to adopt a child. Social Services finally contacts them about a 1.5 year old boy, but the couple learns, to their dismay, that the letter they received contained a severe typographical error, because the kid isn’t 1.5 years old; he’s 15. He’s a homophobic teenager with a criminal record. It was pretty good, but it felt a bit slow, probably because I was expecting more of a comedy, and I got more of a drama.

And tonight, Kim fixed pasta. It was so pretty outside that we ate on the deck and watched the sunset. We had talked about going on the boat, but it got a bit too chilly out. I’m definitely loving the weather, though. It’s cold enough, sometimes, for me to comfortably wear a sweater. And they almost never run any air conditioning up here. There’s just no need. It’s so comfortable.

About to go to bed now. Tomorrow… who knows? Rumor is John’s fixing flank steak for dinner, and I’m going to pick up an item or two from the grocery store so I can fix apple dumplings for dessert. Maybe I’ll get up and take a book out to the end of the dock in the morning… I don’t know. It’s easy to get up early here; the sun’s up and shining into the bedroom by 7:30 or 8, so you just naturally get up then. Or I do. Lane and Paris are, apparently, totally used to sleeping right through sunrise.

Anyway. I need some sleep. It’s only 11:20, earlier than my previous nights here, but I think I’m relaxing enough to really understand how exhausted I’ve been this summer, and so now I’m making up for lost time or something. Good night, blog.

Sunset from the back of the Wagner home in Traverse City. My first sunset in Michigan. It was a pretty one. The day started out rainy and windy, and it ended with really pretty weather, including this sunset.

Sunset from the back of the Wagner home in Traverse City.

My first sunset in Michigan. It was a pretty one. The day started out rainy and windy, and it ended with really pretty weather, including this sunset.

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Themed by: Hunson