2021 in review: Mending our Nets

When fishermen cannot go to sea, they mend their nets is an old proverb I read recently that struck a chord. I was driven to delve deeper into its meaning. Truth is I’ve been seeking a way to succinctly condense the significance of 2021’s events for the Rising Family™. The gist of this saying reminds us things happen in our lives that are far beyond our control such that we cannot live the way we have always lived, or do things we want to do. It doesn’t have to mean we're powerless, just tamed by circumstance. In this sense, this family did our best to take the power back by fighting malaise as best we could this year. Small victories, people!

Nevertheless, the COVID hangover from 2020 still required aspirin throughout 2021. We got through it.

The Big Picture is the pandemic continued to kick the ass of many people. The prospect of normalcy was repeatedly dashed against the hard facts of the Delta and Omicron variants with no endgame yet in sight. The Rising Family navigated these difficulties with resigned sangfroid, keeping in mind that so many others have lost loved ones and have been affected far more than us. 2021 remained a time of uncertainty and challenge, but we managed to scrape out a few fine memories. Here are a few images that represent the year.

January 

Optimistic beginning to 2021 with a New Year visit to a popular Shinto shrine in Yokohama. 

Photo credit KDKA TV Pittsburgh

February

Seems I never have decent photos from February. So here’s the dumpster fire amid a flood. Because it symbolizes my feelings for February in general, but especially in 2021!

March 

Sign of the times: masks and house keys together in the landing next to our front door.

April

I snuck out to a social occasion and returned home aboard a nearly deserted train at 2100. Government measures to prevent the spread of COVID were tough, so most social gatherings were prohibited. Most people supported that and followed the rules.

May

Marina started enjoying hoops—this game center fun foreshadowed her joining the basketball team.

June

This is an energetic Marina jumping down the Mt. Ogusu trail in the Miura peninsula (in January). This is a continuation of our family hikes started in Tennessee state parks.

July

The warm weather ushered in lower infection rates and open-air attractions started to open up again. Here’s M. about to be drenched by a splash boat hitting the skunky water at the FujiQ Highland Amusement Park. A bit of summer heat and children’s delighted squeals helped us forget the pandemic for a few hours.

August

Lady E. and The M. setting off Obon fireworks with their ji-chan (grandad) and baa-chan (granny) during their first get-together in two-and-a-half years.

September

The ladies at the Fushimi Inari shinto shrine in Kyoto (in August) on the way back from our summer trip to Hiroshima.

October

This was our first family movie together at a cinema since we returned to Yokohama. We saw M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old.” We were the first in the theater room; a few more people came in a bit later. It was a freaky feeling to see Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” symbolizing “no sit” seats to keep social distancing rules.

November

I rented a motorcycle and took a day fandango tour to the Izu Skyline. It’s a famous toll highway and a fun drive that runs south of Mt Fuji. I am pointing to where Mt. Fuji is…behind the clouds that magically appeared when we wanted to snap this picture.

December

A “COVID Christmas” Zoom call with my family back home. I was full of Christmas cheer despite the time zone difference. Great to see and talk with everyone.

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