I never cry when I leave America.
Perhaps I always know, I shall return.
I always cry when I leave Japan. Perhaps it's the uncertainty.
The last I see of Japan are the rice paddies.
I say good bye to the Chiba rice paddies from the train or the bus enroute to Narita.
When I return to Japan, the rice paddies welcome me home.
I never sleep on the journey. Neither to nor fro.
Childlike, I never want to miss anything.
Although the beaches welcome me home in America, the emotion doesn't produce the same effect.
Northwest of the Tappan Zee Bridge is a mountain that juts out into the Hudson. It reminds me of Kanagawa/Miura peninsula. Heading west over the Tappan Zee, I experience that same emotion. I'm home. Tadaima.
A young friend took me into Pine Island, the black dirt region of Orange County. I was so confused at first. I was speechless. I was dumbstruck. I was awed. The recall the very first moment I made the discovery. I was on a hill overlooking the land. I climbed atop a gate to get a better view. It was not possible to run down the hill to get a closer view. It was clearly private propery. All the while, I was thinking someone is growing rice !!! I was elated. I kept asked my guide, "is that rice?" I don't think he quite knew or else I simply didn't hear him. "Is that rice?" I asked again and again, like a child.
Suddenly, my mind began collecting data. This entire region is flat. The soil is rich. The area is completely irrigated. Sans machinery. Unlike Long Island. I don't believe I noticed the mountains in the background until a return visit but I had enough information to draw a conclusion.
I found Japan in Orange County!
I went in to work that Monday.
First thing in the morning, I announced, as if I shall never forget this weekend in my entire life, "This is the weekend I fell in love !!!"
There were several people presnet. My boss continued to gaze at a paper in his hand, his head tilted downward. He turned away quickly and headed for his office. I followed him. I stood in his doorway.
I announced again, "I've fallen in love!"
He continued to stare at the paper in his hand. I was certain I was making him nervous.
I walked into his office, on the opposite side of his desk I stood, directly in front of him. Still staring at the page he held in his hand. I exclaimed, asw if he didn't hear me the first time, "Hank, I've fallen in love. After a very brief pause, I continued, "I've fallen in love with Orange County!!!"
Perhaps he was relieved. His hand slowly lowered the page, his head titled upwards.
Then he looked my way with a a bit of a grin and said, "I hope she don't break your heart!"
