Typhoon Shanshan

This past Sunday, while the rest of the world watched baseball, or Idlewild, or the reaction to the Pope`s blasphemous comments about Islam, a nasty typhoon took its toll on Kyushu. From what I hear at school, typhoon Shanshan (is there a better name for a tropical storm?) hit hardest in Saga City. According to the Hindu News, the typhoon touched down Nagasaki prefecture and swept north towards the Sea of Japan, carrying 144 kph winds and causing nine deaths. See a satellite picture of Shanshan here.

I was not here over the weekend, but the evidence from the storm was evident in the chaotic mess of bikes and the unusually cool weather. Hope everyone is OK.

Favorite new Japanese word of the day: momo (peach) & Shanshan.

Jump to More...

Crazy head

On this single day
between memory and hope
when our lives
and our table
overflow
with love and plenty
just consider...
this gift of life outright
which we all share
and of the multitudes
who missed
by the merest whisper
of time and place
these randome blessings
of our anonymous donor.
Then all our days
will sparkle
in the splendor
of gratitude
and humility.

This poem was written by my friend Katherine's grandfather, Hugh Malanaphy, who currently resides in Brooklyn. His family is hoping to publish some of his poems soon. This poem was written for Katherine on her graduation day--I found it particularly inspiring since I graduated also. But the message resonates for anyone who is in a retrospective, open-ended position in life.

Jump to More...