I just love the way you write. It draws me straight into the moment! Thank you so much. That really is the best part of day and when a city can look beautiful before humans cast their shadows.
I almost expect to go for that coffee. I can smell it!
Peter, thank you so much! It is such a lovely part of the day and I love hearing that you're in the moment with me. And that you're expecting to go for coffee - that makes me smile!
I am sitting here in Los Angeles and it is early morning not yet 730. I imagine I am walking the streets of Osaka with you while I sip my freshly brewed cup of coffee how I wish you were coming with us next spring so that you could narrate all the beauty that we will see.
Laurel, I’ve never been, so I supplanted images from SF’s Chinatown. (I used the “listen” option. Not bad. A male reader, well-trained in long pauses between paragraphs.) You are a guide, welcoming us all into your secret spaces, taking us down alleys we might not conjure alone, pointing out the features so essentially and lovingly that we, too, fall in love, without the slightest care of returning home. I’m with you, as they say. Pack me into your bags and I’ll let your words take me there.
Dear Paul! This made me smile, and I loved hearing that you listened. I really am curious to try the audio myself (with coaching, of course). Thank you for the kind words. I had such a wonderful visual of walking through the alleys and sharing the spaces. You set the stage and transformed the scene in a way I hadn’t seen before. There will always be room in my bags, and it’s an absolute joy to have you along!
Dearest Laurel, I feel this is your best piece yet. I've read (or felt) it through a few times now.
It is as if I am participating a scene from a serene, zen-like movie.
One of the online Sanghas I've joined is contemplating the wisdom of the 18 realms (six sense organs, six sense objects and sex sense consciousnesses). Even thought he coffee shop wasn't open, I could taste and smell a freshly brewed coffee on a bitterly cold morning. I could see and feel cold contrasting brick work, I could feel the coldness on my raynaud- affected fingers.
I was both the purposeful man with his newspaper and yourself exchanging conscious awarenesses.
Dearest Sue, what a beautifully written and experienced series of happenings. It means so much to me that you felt that way. I absolutely love your observations, and I went back through the piece and lived them again myself. You made it even more alive. And your connection of being both the purposeful man and myself, exchanging conscious awareness; such an exquisite line. Thank you for bringing so much to this conversation, and I’m sending lots of gratitude back to you!
I am still in bed with a large golden retriever sharing his warmth. It’s a cold Melbourne winters morning outside & I’m contemplating facing it head on in multiple layers of clothing. But I know it will be lovely outside with the wet colourful fallen leaves in the park, the gentle filtered light & distant traffic noise of the morning commuters. I get your vibes. Aren’t we blessed. One day I will visit Japan. Until then I dream through your eyes.
Oh, Sue, now I can just feel being cozy with a large golden retriever and thinking of the wet fall outside. You describe it so beautifully and it's a walk I want to take. Thank you for your kind words, and we can each share our travel dreams!
Lovely piece. Felt the sun. Osaka will always have a special place in my heart (and elsewhere) - it's where I experienced my first (and only) 'denki furo:' electric bath.
Thank you, Jeff! And I just looked up 'denki furo', I had not heard of that before. I would love to hear about that experience. Did you write about that?
How beautiful. “Pretty”.
I just love the way you write. It draws me straight into the moment! Thank you so much. That really is the best part of day and when a city can look beautiful before humans cast their shadows.
I almost expect to go for that coffee. I can smell it!
Peter, thank you so much! It is such a lovely part of the day and I love hearing that you're in the moment with me. And that you're expecting to go for coffee - that makes me smile!
I would love to sit and have a coffee and a chat. It would be fun.
Yes, it would!
I am sitting here in Los Angeles and it is early morning not yet 730. I imagine I am walking the streets of Osaka with you while I sip my freshly brewed cup of coffee how I wish you were coming with us next spring so that you could narrate all the beauty that we will see.
I would love to have you walking along with me, both in Osaka and next spring! I suspect I'll find a way to see you for at least part of that trip :)
I just love your writing style, Laurel. These are stories about nothing. And everything.
Hi Bob, such a great comment and a wonderful smile for this morning! Thank you.
🤗🙏🧘♀️
🤗🙏🏻🧘♀️
Laurel, I’ve never been, so I supplanted images from SF’s Chinatown. (I used the “listen” option. Not bad. A male reader, well-trained in long pauses between paragraphs.) You are a guide, welcoming us all into your secret spaces, taking us down alleys we might not conjure alone, pointing out the features so essentially and lovingly that we, too, fall in love, without the slightest care of returning home. I’m with you, as they say. Pack me into your bags and I’ll let your words take me there.
Dear Paul! This made me smile, and I loved hearing that you listened. I really am curious to try the audio myself (with coaching, of course). Thank you for the kind words. I had such a wonderful visual of walking through the alleys and sharing the spaces. You set the stage and transformed the scene in a way I hadn’t seen before. There will always be room in my bags, and it’s an absolute joy to have you along!
Beautiful as always I just returned from Osaka and Tokyo.
Hi Wendy! I just saw some of your beautiful pictures; it looked like such a fun trip!
Dearest Laurel, I feel this is your best piece yet. I've read (or felt) it through a few times now.
It is as if I am participating a scene from a serene, zen-like movie.
One of the online Sanghas I've joined is contemplating the wisdom of the 18 realms (six sense organs, six sense objects and sex sense consciousnesses). Even thought he coffee shop wasn't open, I could taste and smell a freshly brewed coffee on a bitterly cold morning. I could see and feel cold contrasting brick work, I could feel the coldness on my raynaud- affected fingers.
I was both the purposeful man with his newspaper and yourself exchanging conscious awarenesses.
I cherish the simple perfection of this post.
With much gratitude. 🙏
Dearest Sue, what a beautifully written and experienced series of happenings. It means so much to me that you felt that way. I absolutely love your observations, and I went back through the piece and lived them again myself. You made it even more alive. And your connection of being both the purposeful man and myself, exchanging conscious awareness; such an exquisite line. Thank you for bringing so much to this conversation, and I’m sending lots of gratitude back to you!
I am still in bed with a large golden retriever sharing his warmth. It’s a cold Melbourne winters morning outside & I’m contemplating facing it head on in multiple layers of clothing. But I know it will be lovely outside with the wet colourful fallen leaves in the park, the gentle filtered light & distant traffic noise of the morning commuters. I get your vibes. Aren’t we blessed. One day I will visit Japan. Until then I dream through your eyes.
Oh, Sue, now I can just feel being cozy with a large golden retriever and thinking of the wet fall outside. You describe it so beautifully and it's a walk I want to take. Thank you for your kind words, and we can each share our travel dreams!
Laurel, thank you for sharing. I feel the cold and sun glancing through the buildings. I’ll get a cup of coffee now.
I wish you a happy July 4th.🇺🇸
Hello Dötte! Happy July 4th to you as well, and thank you for sharing a cup of coffee with me!
Lovely piece. Felt the sun. Osaka will always have a special place in my heart (and elsewhere) - it's where I experienced my first (and only) 'denki furo:' electric bath.
Thank you, Jeff! And I just looked up 'denki furo', I had not heard of that before. I would love to hear about that experience. Did you write about that?
I love your eye for beauty
Hello my friend
Osaka had the biggest fish market I have ever seen! And the cool thing it didn’t smell like fish! Incredible experience
Hello Cindy, thank you, it's so nice to see you. I haven't been to the fish market yet. Wow!