The Soup

I think my mind has got a strange mesh filter, which takes away all these big rocks and keeps sand inside; I forget about main events but clearly remember tiniest stuff.

It was this past Saturday that I went to Acty Osaka for the first time in years, to find out that an old sandwich restaurant had been replaced with a not-so-trendy-anymore Asian-fusion diner.

And I started wondering when was the last time I was there, with whom and why.

Strangely enough, the first and only thing that flashed into my mind was the consomme soup they always served for free. Looking back, it tasted like "just add water" kind of soup, but I simply loved it, and suddenly started missing it so much.

(Sorry if I looked a bit spaced-out while we were strolling on the floor. I must've been feeling the taste of that soup.)


[コンソメスープの味　　サンドイッチ「グルメ」・アクティ大阪]

最後に行ったのはたぶん姉とで、
エッシャー展の後だったような・・・　すごいあやふや。 なのに
なんでコンソメスープだけこんなにハッキリ覚えてるんやろう？
あと、向かいの丸ビルの天気予報とか。

Priceless

- Two tickets for Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography: Free

- Mini outdoor bossa nova concert at Yebisu Garden Place: Free

- Getting mesmerized by the breezy sound of Matsumonica's harmonica, and knowing my friend was feeling exactly the same: Priceless

There are some things that money can't buy...


[お金で買えない価値がある]

自分が何に心を動かされるか、自分でも全く予測できません。

先日は、マツモニカさんのサウンドに、キュンとなりました。

「キュンと、って・・・年考えろ」って？

いやほんと、なんかね、
鎖骨の間をレモンソーダがシュワシュワー　
って感覚だったんですよ。
自分が一番びっくりしたわ。

Chopsticks

I don't know about Rachmaninoff either, but this line really gets me:

Take your potato chips and go.
- The seven year itch (1955)

余計帰れなくなりますよ
そんなキュートなセリフ言われたら。

The Name

I know it's been quoted too many times, but this is my first time:
What's in a name?

And I answer:
That which we call an oakleaf hydrangea by any other name wouldn't have made me and my mother feel as sweet.
(Look at the leaf, it's too oaky.)

Ref: Floridata, USDA Plants Database


[7/24（日）　実家の庭にて]

母：　アジサイ、先月綺麗かってんけど。（房、）もう切ってしまった。　　
　　　（葉っぱを指差し）　これもでしょ、それからこれも・・・　　　
　　　あ、実はこれもアジサイやねん。

私：　え、そうなん？　でも　アジサイぽくないね。　　　
　　　なんか　柏餅の葉っぱみたいやん。

母：　そう！　だからね、名前は・・・　カシワバアジサイ。

植物を知っているということ。
衒学的、と思いもするけど、
少なくとも「カシワバアジサイ」という名前は
母と私を純粋に幸せに、そしてちょっと得意げにしてくれました。