sumimasen

of the few i know, "sumimasen" is the japanese word i uttered more than any other during my trip. if you've seen james may: our man in japan, a travel series of which i was unaware of until i returned home, you will notice this is his go-to as well. it basically means, "excuse me", or, "i'm sorry", and i attribute its overuse to the sensitivity i experienced of possibly inconveniencing an entire country full of people at every turn; when i was lost, when i didn't understand, when i blindly walked in the someone's path. of course, being eternally damned wasn't the case at all, it is the opposite there and i have never met a kinder, more accommodating society so happily willing to assist. still, "sumimasen" was said out of an embarrassment of  gratitude a hundred times a day.

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​     it is a tired refrain but this was a life-changing trip in a number of ways. yes, i discovered a whole new way to look at the world, but i was also reminded of the things that are important to me- the value of loved ones, overcoming fear, reaffirming good health and the appreciation of choosing sobriety 25 years ago. the peace of finally realizing a life path that leads you places you never dreamed. but in this instance, i have dreamed this place. i have dreamt of seeing this sunrise since i was young, and it exceeded all expectations, even on its grayer days.
there is too much to say about everything my travelling companions and i experienced together, and individually, so i will just share some of my favorite photos. i know i may never be able to fully articulate how the air felt, how the trickling brook sounded, or how the colors all around me seemed to radiate out from some silver core, but i will always know.  it is not the type of place and they are not the type of people one ever forgets.