☁ A quiet Okinawan morning beginning under cloudy skies
This morning in Okinawa brought a gloomy, overcast sky, with rain forecast for the afternoon.
Since I finished the laundry last night, I didn’t have to rush this morning and could start the day at a leisurely pace. The weather is expected to deteriorate over the weekend with stronger north winds. Stepping out onto the balcony, the entire sky is covered in thick clouds, spreading a quietness typical of winter in Okinawa.
A cloudy morning has a different kind of calm compared to sunny days, and even the sounds outside feel somehow softer. There were fewer cars driving by, and perhaps because the air felt crisp, the whole town seemed to be moving at a slower pace.
👩🦳 Preparing Mom for Day Care and My Morning Routine
Today is Mom’s day care afternoon.
Since mornings are relatively free, I plan to prepare lunch, feed her, and then send her off. Mom worries about going because she sometimes gets migraines on day care days,
but when she returns, she tells me, “I had fun,” which makes me feel reassured too.
Mornings are a precious time when I can tidy up the house, write my blog, and have a little time to myself. Combined with the quiet of the cloudy sky, I was able to spend it feeling calm.
🌸 The state of the cherry blossom buds beside the apartment building
I looked at the cherry tree beside the apartment from the balcony, but there’s still no sign of blooming.
The buds haven’t swollen yet, and the pink tips aren’t visible either. With the cold snap lasting until the weekend, I suspect they’ll swell all at once once this cold spell passes.
I saw on the news that they’ve already started blooming on Yaedake in the north, but it looks like the cherry blossoms in Urasoe will take a little longer. The fact that the blooming period differs by region is one of the interesting things about Okinawa’s cherry blossoms; you can feel how the progression of the season changes from place to place.
Looking up at the cherry tree and imagining, “I wonder how they’ll bloom this year,” is also a delightful time. When they reach full bloom, the deep pink spreads all at once, brightening my heart just like it does every year.
🌧️ Weather lasting through the weekend and today’s plans
The forecast calls for bad weather through the weekend, but mornings like this, under cloudy skies, aren’t so bad.
Watching the trees sway in the north wind, feeling the slow passage of time, gives my heart a little rest amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.
This afternoon, after dropping Mom off at daycare, I plan to tidy up the house, prepare for shopping, and take it easy within reasonable limits. Rainy days often mean staying indoors, so I intend to slowly tackle things I can do at home.
🌿 A Gentle Day
On quiet, cloudy mornings, time seems to flow more slowly than usual.
Looking forward to the cherry blossom buds swelling, I hope to spend today gently and without pushing myself too hard.
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