Manzanar & Camping

These are a few shots from last year's Manzanar Pilgrimage. Every year the numbers grow. It's really an outstanding event, well organized, inspired, and important. They will recognize Shibata this year for his contributions.. the biggest contribution... starting the whole thing.

The Taiko drumming is the highlight for me. It's moving with the backdrop of those mountains. 

Shibat himself with the rest of the camping crew. It's going to be a very emotional year, but I think it will be nice to share our memories. I can't imagine talking stories around the camp will ever be the same though....

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” — Helen Keller

Some comforting words from a very strong woman.

I guess Miss Keller has it right. When we lose someone, they aren't really gone. You embody everything that has come before.

kawa no nagare no you ni - Misora Hibari

A lovely song for you today. It was sung by a Japanese musical legend, Misora Hibari. A star in Japan similar to our Aretha Franklin maybe?

Shirazu shirazu aruite kita  //  The path is narrow and long and
Hosoku nagai kono miti  //   We walk along it without much thought but
Furi kaereba haruka tooku  //   If we turn our heads, far in the distance
Furusato ga mieru   //   We can see our places of origin.
Dekoboko miti ya magari kunetta miti   //   Bumpy and winding; these uncharted roads,
Tizu sae nai sore mo mata dinsei  //  But then again- that is life isn't it?

Aa kawa no nagare no you ni  //  Ah, like the flow of the river,
Yuruyaka ni   //   Laid back
Ikutsu mo didai wa suguite  //  So much time passes
Aa kawa no nagare no you ni  //  Ah, like the flow of the river,
Tomedo naku  //  Endlessly
Sora ga tasogare ni somaru dake  //  The distant sky saturated with twilight

Ikiru koto wa tabi suru koto  //  To live is to journey

Owari no nai kono miti  //  On this path without an end
Ai suru hito soba ni tsurete  //  and people we love draw near us
Yume sagashi nagara  //  As we search for our dreams
Ame ni furarete nukarunda miti demo  //  Even though the rains may fall, muddying the way
Itsuka wa mata hareru hi ga kuru kara  //  Someday, again, another clear day will surely come

Aa kawa no nagare no you ni  //  Ah, like the flow of the river,

Odayaka ni  //  Calmly
Kono mi o makasete itai  //  We seek to release ourselves
Aa kawa no nagare no you ni  //  Ah, like the flow of the river
Utsuriyuku  //  As we wait
Kisetsu yukidoke o matinagara  //  For the thaws of the coming seasons

Aa kawa no nagare no you ni  //  Ah, like the flow of the river,
Odayaka ni  //  Calmly
Kono mi o makasete itai  //  We release ourselves
Aa kawa no nagare no you ni  //  Ah, like the flow of the river,
Itsumademo  //  Forever
Aoi seseragui o kikinagara  //  As we listen to the flow of the blue.

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All these years I took for granted that we'd have him forever. There's a gigantic hole now.