Mama Chari

 That's a kind of Japanglish term for the kind of bike I have - Mother's Chariot. The characteristics of this kind of bike are the front and back baskets and the stable kick stand. Unless you want more features, the price is pretty reasonable (US 150). For traveling around Ichikwa it's great. Many streets are narrow, so you don't get much car traffic.

This morning I left the house for the early service at church with my handbag and a sweater that needed to go to the cleaners in the baskets. After church, I first went to the cleaner's shop near my apartment and parked just outside the front door. After depositing my sweater and getting the ticket to pick it up on Wednesday (US $12), I went to the fruit and vegetable shop a couple blocks away. I was able to park the bike in the alley beside the open air shop while I got bananas, tangerines, avocado, small green and red peppers, carrots, yellow onions, small white potatoes and sweet potatoes ($13.50). That bag went into the back basket. Then I walked across the street, leaving the bike parked in the alley, to the drug store to get toilet paper ($4.75). That went into the front basket with my purse. I then cycled about a block and a half  to a Circle K where I got a small salad and a pizza-mon ($4.85) for my lunch and while I was there, paid my monthly Health Insurance premium ($20) and my water bill ($31). The bike with the shopping in the baskets sat outside the front door. Then I cycled three blocks home.

The weather is kind of dreary and damp, rain is predicted for this evening, so after I took all my things out of the baskets, on went the cover. The bike sits just at the bottom of the stairs to my second floor apartment. I do lock it when I leave it anywhere. The locks are usually built in to the back fender assembly here. Occasionally bikes are stolen,or picked up by the city if they are left somewhere for too long or in a no bike parking zone. When I bought the bike I registered it with the city, so if it does disappear, I can check for it at the city impound lot.

All in all, unless it's raining more than a sprinkle, I'm happy for the convenience of a bike in Ichikawa. On top of all that, I get a little exercise too.

Santa Doll Class

Yesterday I went to a special class held at my quilting teacher's house. She had a visiting American friend hold  three classes (one in Karuizawa and two in Ichikawa) making Santa Dolls. I'm not all that thrilled with Santa in general but figured I might learn something in the process, and always have an interesting time with these ladies from quilting.

The teacher, Mary Anne Eckert, from Boulder, Colorado, had really great kits made up for us so we were able to finish in the one day class. I usually think of dolls as something kids can play with, but this is actually one that is meant to sit somewhere as a Christmas decoration.

At lunchtime we all went into Sensei's dining room and managed to squeeze twelve people around the table. (I'm on one of the left hand corners.)

As always we had lots of food and good conversation. Several of the other students understand and/or speak some English. Sandwiches were accompanied by potato chips, pickles, tangerines, sweets with anco and macha flavored mochi, and chocolate croissant bread.

After lunch we went back to work and in no time an army of small Santas were assembled. We had the most fun, I think, with the beards. Mine is the one in front with the very long moustaches. Later I was able to curl them up a bit for a slightly different look.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the doll, but will treasure the time spent with Japanese friends in the craft classroom setting.

Mitsukoshi Quilt Exhibition 2010

My quilting teacher was asked to make a quilt for the Mitsukoshi Department Store Exhibition this year. Today, she and her husband and another visiting American friend and I will go to see the exhibition. She will also be doing some kind of presentation there and wants to introduce Mary Ann (the other American) who is a doll maker to everyone there.

I just got a phone call from Sensei saying she wants to take my wall hanging and introduce me as well. She sees me and it as some type of International cooperation which she would like to promote.

A Dutiful Daughter

I am a believer in consulting your elders when making large decisions in life.  I tried to remember to run things by my father when he was still living, and was sometimes surprised by his responses. Most often though I was struck by the fact that he had some respect for the person I was becoming.

I have a sweet young Japanese friend who recently shared with me that she was starting a relationship with a young man she worked with this summer.  In Japan it is pretty traditional to inform your parents of your plans when it involves something important.  Her father's response to the young man was "Unacceptable!" I was a little surprised at my friends reaction to her father.  She said, "He makes me laugh!"

This young couple has put their future in the hands of God. So even though it was proper to tell her father, I think she looks to a higher authority.

Volunteering - A sure way to get into trouble.

Now that I think about it, volunteering is how I got to Japan in the first place, but that's a whole other story.

A year ago April I answered a call from the OMF Headquarters office in Singapore asking for people who would be willing to work on a sewing project for the remodeled office.  By the time everyone got their ideas together a year had gone by and there were two of us signed on for the sewing job.  The finished product is to be 5 banners - each 210cm long and 60cm wide. The graphics for each banner were done in Thailand and then the pieces were sent to me to put together and machine quilt and finish. There have been little aggravating problems all along the way - not enough letters cut out, the batik pieces being a bit different in size to one another, pieces sewn together crookedly. On top of all that, I have difficulty finding blocks of time to work on the project, and I really wasn't pleased with the color of fabric chosen for the backs of the banners.

All that said, the work is getting done. Maybe not as fast as originally anticipated, but step by step, I might make it.

You Must Be Very Strong!

This was the comment of a Japanese friend when she saw me in a short sleeved shirt on a mid-October morning several years ago. The first of October is the day everyone thinks about switching to long sleeves here in Tokyo. The school kids wearing uniforms change over on this day. I had an American friend who worked a while for IBM in Tokyo who was adamant that long sleeves were required as of October first when working there.

Of course, I didn't grow up in Japan, but in America, where everyone is supposed to read the weather forcast or stick their head outside before dressing for the day. Establishing a day to change over goes against the grain of our independent spirit.

My friend's comment really stopped me for a minute, trying to equate strength and short sleeves. I guess it still does.