Trying To Kid Myself On Children’s Day

5 May 2025

Blessed with glorious weather and little wind, it was almost appropriate I spent the first part of Children’s Day trying to kid myself that I am something of a decent cyclist. I did manage to build up an almost acceptable pace considering the countless number of traffic lights I had to deal with on a quick trip in and out of central Tokyo.

Blessed with a day off as part of the Golden Week series of holidays, I headed into town to attend a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous near Tokyo Tower. The group was filled with sanctimonious, pious souls, so I left feeling like I could speak in tongues, but grateful to be sober, which is truly a miracle.

As far as afflictions go, alcoholism has proved over the long run to be addressable even though I am acutely aware that it is incurable. An infected finger that has nearly crippled me at times over the past month has proved just as challenging. I popped a blister, but the finger became infected and the infection spread up my hand and arm. I was immobilized at times. I went to the dermatologist nearly every second day for treatment, pumped myself full of painkillers and spread myriad ointments. It’s healing, but slowly.

I’m not the only family member who has been poorly. Our dinosaur has been crook after eating too much human food, infecting her digestive system and leaving her with a nasty sore on her bum. She also copped a dose of antibiotics and is getting a dose of five medicines a day. And she is now on a strict diet. She is finally getting better after about a month of ailing.

Mrs. Kangaeroo was magnificent in nursing Dino back to health, ignoring her own exhaustion to pack the bird into a tiny cage and taking her on the bus to visit and avian vet about 90 minutes away, making the trip several times after having been awake for 36 hours or more and working a grueling night shift. Once again, Mrs. Kangaeroo proved to be a carer of boundless degree and her efforts to get the bird treated and take action to follow the vet’s advice have been extraordinary. I thank her for saving our adorable little winged girl’s life.

She’s not the only cute little bird we have been around recently. Mrs. Kangaeroo and I visited Tama Central Park and came across a pond where a mother duck and her ducklings were enjoying a veritable feast. The little birds were delightfully fluffy and thrilled the throng of onlookers.

Also thriving is our garden, which is starting to look magnificent as the spring flowers prepare to to bloom. It should only be a matter of time before we get a mass of lovely colors, and the garden’s star, our grevillea, has already begun to bloom. Unfortunately, the garden may be looking too good as we have attracted a hornet that seems to have picked a spot over Mrs. Kangaeroo’s herb garden to build it’s nest.
“Nah, mate, only Aussie creatures are welcome in this garden,” has been my appoach and we have taken a number of steps to keep the insect away. It remains to be seen if any will be successful.

Survived I was hospitalized. My brother and sister dropped everything to come and help. They took me to meetings. I have stopped. I will be all right. I can’t give up....
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