Lunch invitation from two senior citizens...

I feel rather weak today... 

Yesterday, we had the pleasure and honor to welcome 50 over new international students... 

As with all previous occasions, we have lined up a series of orientations and guidance sessions, culminating in a 'Welcome Tea Party' where we also invite (non-university related) folks who support our causes, to join...

It is tiring... but I think the real cause of my physical feebleness is, I suspect, bad elements or germs have entered my system... 

My body feels pain... my muscles ache... could this be a mild case of food poisoning, I wonder...

I had my 'suweeto haato' to gently yet forcefully step all over my back and shoulders, believing that this practice would banish away the harmful elements from my body...

Even if it were wishful thinking, it felt really good to be 'stepped on' as such...

I hit the sack last night an hour earlier than usual, and although I had recovered quite a bit, I still need to rest...

The weather since yesterday, had been typhoon-like and is still gusty and windy... 

I tried to force myself to go to the garden but I could not withstand the strong gales that blew in from the Inland Sea...

Approximately at the same time last year, powerful gales came in and uprooted our ten-meter high 'Christmas' tree... (see here)

Now, the real story of this post...

The Japanese folks, especially the older generation, still keep to the 'tradition' of sending new year post cards...

Being a resident in Japan, and picking up friends and acquaintances along the way, I was bound to get 'entrapped' in this practice... 

Before the advent of the email and such, there was not much to do except to return the wishes in kind...

But with so much development in the social network services, it becomes inevitable that we opt for this medium if not only for its convenience... 

However, it is not every day that one can receive a new year post card from a senior citizen...

I had known Mr. T (through the Lions Club that we belong to) for several years now, and he is such a joy to be with... and such a funny, hilarious conversationalist to chat with... 

Mr. T was born in the 12th year of the Taisho era, which is 1923 if we go by the Gregorian calender... which also means that he is about 90 years old...

The Japanese prose... 長楽無極　ご多幸　心よりお祈り申し上げます

My interpretation, 'Continuous enjoyment to no end' or something to that effect... and 'wishing you happiness from my heart'...

Immediately, I stood at attention... and responded... writing not with my hand but with the keyboard, and had the prose printed out...

He was so delighted to read about my many failures and sparse successes with my vegetable gardening... 

So much so that he invited my missus and for lunch or dinner at any time that is convenient to us...

Arrangements was made through Mr. O, another long time, 'fun to be with' member of the club...

Now, Mr. O is about 5 years younger at 85, being born in the 3rd year of the Showa era (which corresponds to 1928 of the Gregorian calender)...

Both of them are still driving despite their advanced age...

And I must say, they look very healthy and strong...

The invitation was to have 'bento' (lunch box) together with their spouses while viewing the blooms of plum blossoms in the garden of Mr. T's house....

Had a really fun time chatting with the two senior folks while chewing on tasty bento...

He is into calligraphy and I must admit that I am clueless in this area...

The stuff he showed us... wooh, was surprised at how much they costs... the brushes... the ink-stones... his works... the monetary value of these objects made my camera equipment look like child's play...

And finally as we were preparing to leave, my missus casually commented on a flower bush...

As if on cue, he took out a spade and dug a few plants for us...

I protested weakly... to that, he said, 'you better accept it before I change my mind...'

A very nice sayonara gift, I must say...

Back home, we searched the net and found out that this flower is called marsh marigold...