Good morning.
This morning in Urasoe, the sky is completely overcast.
The temperature is 21°C, with a forecast high of 24°C and humidity at 84%.
The air is moist, so skin dryness isn’t a concern, and the wind is just a gentle breeze.
Only the tree branches sway lightly, and the sky is covered in gray clouds.
It lacks the brightness of a sunny day, but it’s a quiet, calm morning.
On cloudy mornings like this, the air inside the house feels somehow slower too,
naturally making the start of the day peaceful.
■ Slowly Starting Morning Routines
After opening the window to look outside, I boil water as usual,
making tea for Mom, coffee for myself, and offering coffee to Dad at the family altar.
This sequence has become our household’s morning rhythm.
It’s a habit we’ve kept since Dad was still with us,
and placing the steaming cups makes me feel the day has truly begun.
Then comes the customary “Wake up~!” call.
Today, she’s reluctant to rise,
mumbling complaints from under the covers:
“I’m still sleepy,” “I couldn’t sleep well last night because I had to get up so often.”
Especially on cloudy days, Mother tends to move more slowly.
After calling several times, she finally gets up and heads to the bathroom first.
After that, I give her tea and start preparing breakfast.
Today’s breakfast was:
– Toast with butter
– Banana
– Corn soup
But she just dozed off in her chair,
taking forever to start eating.
When I say, “Get up and eat, and take your medicine and check your blood pressure,”
she finally moves, but ends up only eating the banana and soup.
After taking her medicine and measuring her blood pressure,
she says, “I’m going back to sleep,” so I put her back under the covers.
On days like this, forcing her to get up is counterproductive,
so I just go with her pace and take it slow.
■ The “Vibrant Health Club” starts at 10 a.m., but…
Today, the “Vibrant Health Club” meets downstairs in the apartment building starting at 10 a.m.
Mom says she’ll go,
but whether she actually gets moving depends on how she feels when the time comes.
Especially on days with bad weather,
she often doesn’t feel up to it,
so rather than forcing her to go,
I plan to decide based on how she’s feeling that day.
If she can go, great; if not, she can relax at home.
I’m watching over her with that kind of mindset.
■ Afternoon plans will depend on Mom’s condition
Still debating whether to go shopping this afternoon.
Since Mom might not feel up to it,
we might just make do with what’s in the fridge today.
I bought two cases of water yesterday while out and left them in the car,
so if I can just bring those inside before the rain starts, that’ll be enough.
On cloudy days, the air inside feels slow and still,
and my pace naturally slows down too.
I won’t force a packed schedule; I’ll just do what I can.
■ The Balcony Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom
This morning, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and absolutely beautiful.
Being able to see them from the balcony, almost close enough to touch, is truly a luxury.
Mom is delighted because she can enjoy the blossoms without having to go outside.
When Dad was still with us, he would take her out to the balcony early in the morning during this season,
watch the blossoms and the birds before getting ready for daycare.
Remembering that scene,
it overlaps with my mother’s current state,
and I deeply feel the changing seasons.
I don’t know how many more years my mother will be able to see this view,
but I want to enjoy it together with her for as long as possible.
It’s a precious morning scene for our family.
■ Taking it easy this morning
Since I finished laundry during yesterday’s sunny spell,
it looks like I can take it easy this morning and afternoon.
There aren’t many dishes, so household chores should be minimal.
Still, plans may change depending on Mom’s health,
so I’ll take it easy and see how things go.
Spending quiet time indoors under cloudy skies isn’t so bad.
Let’s have another peaceful day today.
If you’d like, please read my other articles.
Please also take a look at photos not posted on the blog.
