Valentines and Ceramics

Valentine's day is a little different in Japan. About 1 month ago a huge display of chocolates was set up in the department store by my school. Maybe the size of my front yard in Arizona. As I write this post, I'm realizing I should've taken pictures of the display. I went the day after Valentine's Day and it was already packed up and gone. Anyway, Valentine's Day is a time for women to give men chocolates, not only your lover/partner/husband/boyfriend, but also your male co-workers, friends, family and acquaintances. March 14th is "White Day" where men give women something sweet and white usually some sort of marshmallow treat.

That evening, I went to the ceramics studio, where Julian works, to hang out. I was happy to sit in the little studio next to the wood burning stove. The studio smells like cedar, a lovely deep woody smell. We hung out with our friend, studio owner and artist Miki and her daughter for a little bit as well. As Julian was throwing some work, I suddenly felt like playing with clay. It's been a long time since I've done any pottery. I've been doing pottery on and off since high school for almost 20 years and I still can't throw worth a dam, but I sure do love it. So Julian threw a couple pot shapes that I could convert into dolls. I was so inspired by the Komuso monks, which I mentioned in my last blog post, that I made a Komuso monk doll and the other one a robot. Julian helped me with the dolls. The pleasure of creating together and being in such a quiet, peaceful, warm and beautiful environment was the best Valentine's ever. Julian said this and I have to agree, that we are reminded continually that It's really the simple and small things in life that matter. I HEART JULIAN AND JAPAN! As my students say with their hands forming a heart shape "lobu lobu"!