Dear friends: I have spent the last few days somewhat under the weather. Thanks to Akira who rescued me with some medicine from the doctor. I’ve nearly coughed my head off but, today feels like maybe I may be on the other side of whatever little demons are fighting for attention inside of me. I actually got dressed and left the building – to the grocery store and back. I was feeling a little closed in and needed to get out in the sunshine. A step forward on a very beautiful day – cold, clear – bright, and sunny.
Marci had told me that this building would be under wraps when I arrived. All 14 floors of it. It seems every so many year’s workers magically appear to clean, touch up, paint, and repair anything that is needed for or around the building. This was the year. Metal scaffolding and walkways were wrapped around each floor from the bottom to the top. Then all is covered over, the entire building.
I arrived while the workers were in the final stages of cleaning and painting. They also installed new tile on the patios of each unit. They have been working on the building for two months. They are beginning bit by bit to remove the scaffolding and walkways floor by floor. But, before they do, they ask once more if there is anything else that needs to be fixed. A form is filled out and the next day whatever is asked for – is often taken care of – cheerful, efficient!
A new nameplate must be made for our residence, Akira Kobayashi, Marci Kobayashi-Smith, and Sharon Smith. Akira asked me to choose one of two ways with Japanese characters to pronounce “Sharon” in Japanese. One way sounds like Sharren and one sounds like Sharrone. I chose the first. He made the new residential nameplate outside our door and guess what – this is where I live. I cannot read the Japanese letters but others can and that is what is important for the mail and delivery people. My name can be officially written with Japanese characters.
Hope your recovery is complete! That building upkeep is pretty cool . ..