"Mountain Barbecue"

"Ah, summer. What power you have to make us suffer and like it."

-Russell Baker

Forget the beach,

we celebrated Sea Day in the mountains

as a Church family.

I stepped out of the car,

took in a deeeep breath of mountain air,

and felt at home at once.

Japanese barbecues are a little different
than American ones.
It isn't only the food that's foreign,
but also the way the barbecue fires
are kept alit with little paper fans.

Part of the journey in a foreign country
is learning how to live with foreign creatures.
I killed my first cockroach last night, under the sink.
{The sign says: "Watch for pit vipers. -Takasago City"}

The mountains were so inviting,
I left the smokey barbecues behind
and climbed into the forest
to find some 妖精 fairies.

The mountains are full of magic, after all,
no matter where you are in the world.

{Music from the gorgeous 借りぐらしのアリエッティsoundtrack by Cecile Corbel}