spring in nara

interwoven somethings

There was something in the distant past.
There was something about finding Herman Hesse.
There was something to the reading journey through last summer and fall.
There was something to Taoism and Buddhism and old wisdom.
There was something to the influence Lalu and Togo had on me to grow my appreciation for quality over quantity.
There was something to this growing awareness of the essence or spirit or mysteries in me.
There was something about a faint notion that Japan may be interesting to me.
There was something about watching Lalu's passion for simple and natural foods.
There was something to the timing of my lost family in Taiwan getting in touch with my parents.
There was something to my dad and I being the only ones who could travel to Taiwan this time.
There was something to us being able to get only a ticket that connected via Japan.
There was something to the unbearable environment in Taiwan that led us to escape earlier than planned.
There was something to me only being able to change the Taiwan Japan portion of the return flight home.
There was something to the impromtu decision to travel in Japan.
There was something about my friend Bernadette living in Nara and highly recommending it.
There was something to me dreaming of deer and Nara being overrun by them.
There was something to deer being called divine messengers of the gods in Nara.
There was something about Nara and Xian, my birthplace, both being ancient capitals and stops on the silk road.
There was something to me only finding this out here in Nara.
There was something about arriving in Nara at the peak of cherry blossom season.
There is something about representative spirits in Japanese Shintoism.
There is something about experiencing beauty in the smallest and simplest actions, places, and foods.
There is something about my dad truly being able to appreciate this beauty with me.
There is something about Zen gardens emphasizing mystery and incompleteness.
There is something about the contemplation and recreation of nature in the Nara Garden.
There is something here about appreciation of change: in seasons and in the form of water - dry or wet.
There is something about being here during cherry blossom season.
There is something here that reminds me of the divine presence in natural features every day.
There is something here that reminds me of Lalu.
There is something here that is simple, fresh, and beautiful.
There is something about my dad finding in Japan a kindered spirit.
There is something mysterious and beautiful to all of this.