Rain

When I started this blog, it was to keep in touch with people when I was travelling. Then I came back from my vacation and kept going because it was fun. I deleted most of the old posts, which I didn't want up there anymore, and just carried on. The blog gradually transformed into something different; it became a place for me to record the funny little incidents and quirky things about life as an expat in Japan.

Yesterday I found it hard to come up with funny little incidents and quirky things. I spent the afternoon at the memorial for a dear friend who died suddenly a few days ago, far too young, of a heart attack. I was not going to write about it here.

But she was one of my regular readers, and while she never commented here on the blog she often commented in email or in person, and I don't think she would mind if I told my other readers why I missed a day, and why I am sad.

My friend provided inspiration for blog entries occasionally, most memorably when she described the experience of eating fugu balls. Her description was a conversation-stopper, but she hadn't quite realised why. When she talked to me later about what I had written she laughed and laughed.

I can hear her laughing now. She had a wonderful laugh.

The last time I talked to her was on Monday, when she wanted to organize a time to meet and go to visit our friend in hospital, who is recovering from an operation. This was typical of her. She was an enormously loving - and lovable - person. No matter how busy she was she always had time for a friend in need.

But her time ran out, far too soon.

I sat in the train on my way to the service yesterday and stared out the window at the rain, and over the grey suburban sprawl at the wisps of cloud that were wrapping themselves around the hills and drifting into the valleys. I thought of my friend, and tried to get my head around the fact that she will not be there next week for our usual meeting, or ever again.

It is raining again today.



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