In my life and in my posts, there is no such thing as overkill.
Today I went to see the fireflies again. Third time this week, and the only reason why I didn't go yesterday was because I was hashing out harmonies in Chuo Koen. Getting devoured by the damn mosquitos, might I add. I'll go again on Friday with G, and maybe I'll drag other people along one more time if the fireflies are still alive.
The fireflies are important to me, in the same way cherry blossoms are important. They're only around for a very short period of time, and this'll probably be the last time I'll get to see them in Japan. I'm trying to say goodbye to stuff, and that means getting my absolute fill of whatever I'm focusing on.
I went last year to look at fireflies on some sweaty evening, by myself, in the dark. I was freaked out because I didn't know if it was the right place and I was afraid I was walking into someone's driveway so I only went about halfway down the path before scurrying back to my car.
This year was different. When the cherry blossoms were in bloom, I wandered the park by the airport a lot. It's a lot better than you'd think. It took maybe...3 hours to walk the whole thing (on three separate days, however). The last day I went in April it was ridiculously windy. Howling through the trees windy. And I discovered a great lookout point. I couldn't see much, but it made me feel like I was playing Oregon Trail, and I was peering into a safe, welcoming valley. I haven't seen much like it in real life, so that's all I have to compare it to.
Right, from that point, surprisingly, I recognized the udon shop by the firefly place. Something reminded me to go this week, and it was a lot better than last year, where I saw maybe three or four fireflies, and I was all bummed because I was playing mail tag with G and he ended up not coming.
It's hard to explain what makes me go back so many times. I get this impression from movies that fireflies fill the air while they bob and sway. (Although I couldn't name a movie with fireflies in it except for the one we watched last week, "When the Last Sword Was Drawn" and that depressing "Grave" one that I haven't seen.) And the ones I saw, they swoop and stuff, but they stay over their little canal. Tonight they're flying higher, so maybe I just need to wait a little longer.
I guess it also has to do with the weather. It's cool at night still, and the frogs are chirping, but not screaming. Yes, when there's enough of them, they scream. Ear-ringing screams. So it's cool with a warm breeze, and there're frogs and fireflies, and there's no way you can be grumbly when nature's being so accomodating. I took G there on Monday, and it's even better when there's a hand to hold.
Tonight there were more people, and I saw an old student. She's probably 16, maybe 17 by now. She was sending mails on her phone almost the whole time and I had to laugh. She was with her family, but still dressed up, and intent on staying in touch with her friends. Silly girl. She was squatting off to the side and someone informed her that she shouldn't be pissing there. Then her little sister (cousin) announced that she had to pee. Great. The little cousin had a small lantern shaped like a Hello Kitty head. Absolutely adorable.
I told my ex-student that I knew her (other) cousin, and she was impressed. She wanted to know why, and I just said he was a really happy kid. I didn't tell her that the damn kid runs around my English classes at the kindergarten (well, he's only three, and apparently he likes me) and likes to pull/bite/kick/grab other students. Even older students. I hope he grows out of it. I know his whole name, and for a new student, that's impressive. I only know one other 3-year-old's full name, and that's because I am absolutely in love with him. He gives me hugs and says goodbye and asks the kids who are screaming bloody murder to be quiet. And he's 3! He's going to forget me in a year or two and it'll break my heart.
Back to the ex-student. Turns out I saw her family on Monday. Her father shone this bigass bright light at me and G and didn't return our "Good Evening." Lame. But he was nice and friendly tonight when he found out I was a teacher. So there.
Later, a couple families with small kids arrived. One kid kept saying totaru! totaru! instead of hotaru. Her mom kept correcting her too. The other girl kept insisting on being held, just a little higher. It's banal when I regurgitate it, but it was really cute at the time. Right before they went home, both kids were sitting on their mothers' shoulders, a little sleepy but still fascinated. I wanted to take a picture, but those moments don't catch when they're complete strangers.
So that's pretty much my life now. I love it. No TV, no more insane nights out 'til the buttcrack of Dawn, just fireflies and frogs and a slight summer breeze. Going back to the suburbs might kill me.
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