Category Archives: personal reflections

Getting lost as a tour guide, while seeing your hometown through others’ eyes

Posted on December 12, 2011 by stillalife

Familiar sights often look better to us when we take out-of-town guests to see them.  The enthusiasm of others makes us appreciate our hometowns more.  This happened to me today, when my co-teacher and I invited our adult Talk Time … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, inspiration, personal reflections, seasons, touring town | Leave a comment

A leopard toilet seat cover is not on my Christmas list

Posted on December 10, 2011 by stillalife

What do a Japanese calendar with images of the Buddha, a pink hippopotamus Christmas tree ornament, a bumping and grinding Santa Claus, and an out-of-date box of frozen cookie dough have in common?  Not much, except that they were presents … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mrs. Scrooge goes shopping

Posted on November 26, 2011 by stillalife

Yesterday marked the beginning of the official holiday shopping season. Selecting gifts for others is high on my list of activities that stress the body and challenge the intellect. How do I know what anyone else wants and needs unless … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, friends and family, personal reflections, seasons | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

One helping of turkey and one of gratitude

Posted on November 23, 2011 by stillalife

Last Sunday my minister (sensei) shared memories of past Thanksgiving dinners with his relatives; one in particular always annoyed him.  He then told a story of a man who had gone on a hike through the woods to reach a … Continue reading →

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Make like a tree and slow down

Posted on November 13, 2011 by stillalife

Should we humans imitate trees and enter a dormant state during late fall or early winter? My walking partner told me about hearing from someone living in upstate New York who said the downed trees there — the result of … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections, seasons | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Is “common sense” common?

Posted on November 9, 2011 by stillalife

Is common sense all that common? David, the same hair stylist who inspired my last post on “creativity,” suggested “the death of common sense” as a blog topic.  He argued that because of excessive governmental regulations and laws,  people have … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Finding creativity

Posted on November 7, 2011 by stillalife

“Creativity is not what you’re looking for, but what you find.”  I heard this quote from David, my hair stylist who makes me look like I really could have been born a blond.  He’s been in the business for many … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections, writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“Spooktacular” Event

Posted on October 30, 2011 by stillalife

A friend and I were reminiscing yesterday about Halloween in the “good old days,” a time when everyone dressed up as a ghost (old sheet with holes cut out for eyes); a princess, fairy, or queen (crown, magic wand, robe … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What do I say after “Hello”?

Posted on October 24, 2011 by stillalife

Today, a friend and I began leading an informal English conversation group for parents at a local elementary school.   Most participants spoke Japanese as their first language and most had a similar level of fluency, that is, they could … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections, volunteering | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Stories to create and preserve traditions

Posted on September 28, 2011 by stillalife

We all love a good story, but usually don’t think about the role stories play in our lives. In traditional societies, story telling helps preserve customs, pass on important knowledge and set behavioral norms.  According to the blog Architecture and … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections, support and caring | Tagged | 3 Comments