Summer still rocks. Maybe I am one of the few souls on this earth not too bothered personally by the warmer temperatures--yet. That said, it was a long, hot summer and the heat lingered through almost to the end of the year…
July
There is a park near our house where all the neighborhood festivals and gatherings happen. For the first time since the COVID pandemic social restrictions ended the community held its summer Obon dance festival. Marina was very excited and dressed up in cute summer yukata, which is a less ornate kimono-like garment that’s made of cotton or linen rather than silk. It’s much cooler for the wearer especially in the summer humidity. 
I also went to a Seibu Lions game with Jun Kolanowski. Simple pleasures like watching the ballgame, drinking a few cold ones, and catching up.
August
We traveled to Naomi’s parents place in Hiroshima Prefecture for a visit over the Obon holidays. Our time there was filled with eating, catching up with them, more eating, drinking copious amounts of beer, and avoiding the heat. We went to the Japan seaside for an ocean swim and enjoyed the lack of traffic jams. I visited some friends and went to see two Hiroshima Carp games: one with my bud Scott Mackulski and the other with Lady E., which was a nice surprise. This photo is Naomi and Marina paddling around a small pond with a fishing hole not far from where her parents live. Very relaxing, very pastoral.
September
Naomi and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year. We found a new favorite seaside restaurant to have a nice dinner, mark the anniversary with away-from-kids time, and listen to nice jazz mixed with the sound of ocean waves. This photo is from our first anniversary. 
October
Who is this? Meet Dick Desperado, famed Ontario outlaw. Or maybe a guy in a Hallowe’en costume. You decide. 
November
I greatly enjoy the chance to go out hiking with the boys. November’s spelunking was another opportunity to have some quality time ragging on each other, get some exercise, and drink a frothy cold one at the end of the day. It was near Hanno in Saitama Prefecture, and I really liked the temple we visited up on the mountain that was dedicated to “zori”—Japanese thong sandals. Only in Japan, man. 
December
My brother Steve-O and I have been trying to talk more online since our last trip home to Canada. It’s his birthday this month. So why not celebrate that? He’s a good person, a great sibling and he’s found a lovely, smart wife to round out his rough edges. Happy b-day, bro. Oh yeah…in December the Rising Family™ took a trip to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. But I’ll cover that in a separate post, coming soon!
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| Photo credit: Alamy in Leeds |
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