I spent three hours yesterday wondering around Shin Urayasu trying to take in what my neighbors across the river from have been going through.  The first thing that I have to say is that although the damage is quite extensive, it can not even be compared to what the people in the Tohoku area have been going through.

As my sneakered feet wandered in between the houses, and apartment complexes that fill the reclaimed land of Urayasu, I couldn’t help but notice that for as much damage that had been done, there was as construction crews all over the city.  The dusty air filed my nose and the rattling of jack hammers hit my eardrums.  I was surprised to see housewives sweeping up dust into white drawstring bags and placing them in front of their homes.

A sign at a local kindergarden gives the people words of encouragement in their times of trouble.  I was warmed to see people working as a community to help get the city back to normal as quickly as possible.

Walking along recently graveled filed sidewalks I would stop and stare at a portion of a wall that had collapsed or to watch a construction crew to repair streets.  The amount of activity was mind boggling.

I have great hope for the future of Japan.  Japan has an opportunity to come together to face the triple disaster and emerge on the other side stronger and connected with each other.  Spring is here.  The flowers are reaching for the sun.  I pray that all the love and cooperation will continue long after all the dust has been cleaned from the streets.

As the earth still continues to shake, and TEPCO struggles to contain the the nuclear power plant, the colorful blossoms of spring are popping up in my neighborhood.  The Cherry Blossom trees are covered with buds that should burst forth any day now.

As all these issues that I have absolutely no control over swirl around me I can take some comfort in knowing that mother nature will continue through its cycles.  The flowers will continue to bloom.  The children who have been bundled up during the winter months will head to the parks to play.  All the signs that spring is coming.

Still I feel this uneasiness this spring.  I am sure that there will be little partying under the cherry blossoms.  People’s hearts are heavy with uncertainty about the future.  I have no choice but to be optimistic that a better future will come.

Disasters are a part of human kind, and they challenge us to rise above and overcome them.  My prayers go out to those on the front lines of disasters here in Japan and throughout the world.

For all my family and friends out there, keep us all in prayers.

I have been back in Tokyo for a few days.  The earth is alive and in a constant state of flux.  My heart drifts back to sitting on the edge of the sand at Delray Beach.  The simple uncluttered view of my birth.

I am pleased to have had a lament for Japan by my friend John Walford.  I will let the image and the poetic words speak for themselves.

“Fallen Leaves and a Solo Broom”

How time can change the way we see,
Familiar things from another year.
This lone broom, waiting to sweep
Some scattered leaves from yesteryear.

Ivy drooping over a green-stained wall,
The sloping road, and red-paved path,
Waiting in innocence for a passer-by,
To take the broom, and sweep the leaves.

Who could have known, July last year,
It might not be a gentle hand that seized
The broom – nor that the earth would shake,
The sea would roar, sweep all away – but fear.

— A lament for all lost and suffering in Japan,
and a prayer that time would witness the country
return to the graceful beauty of the single broom.
–JW, March 26, 2011, and in admiration of
Jacob Schere’s poetic vision of Japan.

Thanks John for such beautiful thought provoking words.

Originally posted at John Walford’s blog Only Connect on March 26, 2011.

As many of you know my adoptive home is Japan.  I have been a bit overwhelmed being in Miami while my family is in Tokyo.  I really haven’t had the urge to keep my blog up to date; however, I will livicate this post and image to all the people I know still in Japan, and all those that I don’t.

Taken on the way to snorkeling in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

As usual this is just a taste, more to come.

Just back from the edge of south Florida.  The part of Florida that drifts into a Thousand Islands and then into the Florida Keys.  It was a beautiful place to sit with the family and have a refreshing dinner.

Took this image not too far from my old neighborhood in Kendall.  Perfect light on a lovely end of a day.

I spent a bit time on 8th Street on the west side that is often known as Tamiami Trail.  A post office that has shuttered its doors.  And a little further down the trail there was a great little lawnmower repair shop under high security that had been pieced by graffiti writers.  The gumbo stew that is Miami.

I finally made my way to the east at I was able to dangle my toes in the Atlantic Ocean.  It felt so good to be down at the beach.  The wind was ripping the safety flags, and Portuguese man o‘ wars covered the beach.  It was good to be down at the waters edge; however, the water was too cold for me, and the the Portuguese man o‘ war littered the beach like venomous land mines.  I hope that the next time, I can actually bathe in the salty waters.

I decided to head down to Coconut Grove today to enjoy the lovely cool weather.  On my way there I passed by Dante Fascell Park.  This park has been the scene for many birthdays, playtimes, and even was a location for my Bar Mitzvah portrait with my dog Sundance.  I didn’t stop, but I made a mental note to return there on the way home and explore around a bit.

I was happy to see youth climbing all over the naked lady sculpture just like I used to as a child growing up in south Florida.  There she was, in her cool gray concrete self.  Nothing to protect her from the elements.  Just the youth climbing all over her, and soaking up the cool warmth of her bosom.

I am glad to see her still there, reclining, and just chilling in the Miami sun.

I just love these concrete boxes.  I think they hide water pumping machinery.  This one is a long exposure from FIU’s campus.

The walls got rocked at Catalyst by some of 305′s finest writers.  Big shout outs to GS, TREK 6, DAR, CUE, SICKS and WEEL.  They brought bright colors and the aroma of fresh paint throughout the Catalyst courtyard.  I love watching the writers paint.  Layers of history, layered on top of each other, and over time watching the burner come to life.