Relaxing in a coffee shop is a little trip in daily life.

Coffee is one of my everyday pleasures. I can't wait to make coffee from Starbucks beans every morning. I like to make my coffee with more hot water than is offered in the shop. I drink it black♪ 

Drinking coffee at home is wonderful, but sometimes I want to go out and drink coffee in a stylish space. It's a great option when you want to relax: step out of the house, get some fresh air, and visit other places where you can sit back enjoying delicious coffee.

soothing time in a cafe

It's a nice change of pace to change locations! If you're not planning on traveling or don't have much time, a coffee shop is an effortless, yet great way to unwind. 

In fact, I like going to McDonald's, too.  The people-watching there is also interesting. 

I am quite thrifty and enjoy most of my coffee at home.  So I'm stoked when I go out to a coffee shop. Relaxing in a coffee shop is a little trip you can take in daily life.

What is your daily refreshment of choice?  Wishing you a wonderful day today♡           ＊Rose＊

The illness could be a sign to have second thoughts.

Apparently I am physically weaker than most people. When I pushed myself too hard, I would often develop a fever or headache. There are some items on my bucket list, but it doesn't go as smoothly as I would like. At such times, I feel frustrated by the fact that I am not achieving as much as I should be compared to the outstanding people in the world. Sometimes the life doesn't go the way you want.

However, I realized that I don't have to be as good as other outstanding people, after I have done the best I could in my own way. Having worked on it, if you realize that where you are is not the one you want, you can always change your direction. You can achieve happiness and fulfillment in life by following different paths, not sticking to the direction you originally decided to go. Your way of thinking will change over time as you continue to practice and grow.

When you catch a cold or any kind of illness, your body might be telling you that the path you should be going is not there. Then you realize that what you've continued to do because you thought you had to was more stressful than you thought. The mind is intimately connected to the body. So...

Let's rethink how we can achieve our dreams in a less stressful way than we are now, and get closer to our dreams in a way that makes us happy! We can accomplish our bucket list items at a more comfortable pace.

Each person has a unique talent. It is a special gift given by God. 

That I will always try to remember, when I feel like losing myself.

Renewing my mind with my favorite miniature rose, 

  Rose

Do pets show up to thank the people who cherished them after they passed away?

今は天国にいるじろちゃんです。実家に行くといつも会えるのが楽しみでした。実はじろちゃんは実家のお隣さんのねこなのですが、よく実家に遊びに来ていたのです。

長い年月が経ち、じろちゃんが天国に行ったことを知らされました。

その後のことです。私が眠っている時、じろちゃんが私と同じ枕にいて、温もりを感じました。じろちゃんはいつものように私に寄りかかって寝ていたのです。じろちゃんがごろごろ喉をならすのが聞こえたので、私はじろちゃんはここにいるって安心してまた眠りにつきました。

最近とあるSNSで知ったのですが、ペットは、この世から去った後、ありがとうを言いに可愛がってくれた人のもとに現れるそうです。その人が現れたペットに気づかないこともあります。

私は、確かにじろちゃんがごろごろ言っているのを聞いた！　私の頭に寄りかかっているじろちゃんを感じた！

それとも夢の中の夢なのでしょうか？

しかし私は思うのです。じろちゃんは本当に私に会いに来てくれたのではないかと。

じろちゃん、大好きだよ。

私はまだ、ここにいてやらなければいけないことがきっとある。もう少しだけ頑張ってみるよ。じろちゃん、いつか会えるかな？　それまで、天国で元気でいてね。

This is "Jiro", now in heaven. I looked forward to seeing him every time I visited my parents' place. In fact, Jiro-chan is my parents' next-door neighbor's cat, and he used to visit my parents' house often.

Many years later, I was told that Jiro-chan had gone to heaven. 

It happened afterward, when I was sleeping, Jiro-chan was on the same pillow as me and I felt his warmth. Jiro-chan was sleeping leaning against me as usual. I could hear Jiro-chan making a rumbling sound in its throat, which reassured me that Jiro-chan was here, and I fell asleep again.

Pets, after they leave this world, appear to those who loved them to say thank you, that I've recently seen on social media. The person may not even notice the pet showing up around. 

I'd definitely heard him purring! I'd felt him leaning on my head! 

I wondered, "Is it a dream within a dream?"

I thought it over again, but I still think Jiro-chan really came to see me. 

I love you, Jiro-chan.

I am sure there are things I still have to do in this world. I will try a bit more. Jiro-chan, "Can we meet down the road?" Until then, may you be always happy in Heaven.

Leaving Michigan & Lovely Rose Cake

It's the morning I leave Michigan for Tokyo.  The two of us went out of the house for a while.

We saw a rose bush Collie was growing. He was growing roses while we couldn't meet for years. It was a type of rose with few petals. What is the rose called? The delicate petals look like a lady's skirt.

I'm all set for leaving Michigan for flying back to Tokyo. This is the room I use when I stay at his house. I look at it for the last time, saying thank you in my heart.

Then he drove me to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. We skipped breakfast at home to get there earlier. I didn't really think about it when I booked the airline ticket of Delta Air Lines, but later I realized the ticket didn't allow me to reserve a return-trip seat to Tokyo in advance. My ticket was "Basic" Economy and was Delta's most reasonable fare class that came with more restrictions from Economy. I'll have to line up to get my seat at the boarding gate on the day.

We usually spend time together at the airport as long as possible before I go through the security check. But this time, he hurried so that I could get a better seat. "If you are going to feel cramped between big Americans, I'd better endure the shorter time we can be together at the airport!"

He carries my ponderous suitcase easily. （❤︎ ❤︎）

He walks on so fast carrying my heavy suitcase.（❤︎ ❤︎）（❤︎ ❤︎）（❤︎ ❤︎） Wow! He is super cool. 

Thanks for helping me out.  Collie, you're the best!!!

He helped me to check in, too. Then we sat and began to eat sandwiches Collie made quickly at his house in the morning. In the sandwich, there was lettuce that he washed for dinner last night and kept some for our quick sandwiches at the airport. He also prepared nuts etc.

Facing the security check, we eat breakfast. We don't have time to chill somewhere more relaxing because of my Basic Economy ticket. ( ;  ; )  While I was eating, he took a selfie of us. There were a few tears in my eyes. I am happy with him... I have to go soon.... I was smiling but my heart was crying. 

Before long, the time came. I began standing in line for the security check and he saw me off as I proceeded. I turned around and looked at him, again and again. And finally, I waved at him and disappeared from his sight.

This travelogue was written about what happened in June 2023 in Michigan. When Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted in the United States, I flied to Michigan for the first time in 5 years to see Collie. After the sparkling stay, I returned to Tokyo and resumed my work at an advertising agency.

In July 2023.  I received a picture expressing birthday wishes from Collie. 

Birthday cake with rose shaped cream on top!  And roses arranged in a small vase must be the ones he grew! Rose cake and real roses for Rose. What a lovely presentation🌹  Thanks a million, Collie!!

A video was sent on Google besides a picture.

Near the whole cake, there is a pair of chopsticks I gave him as a present.  Collie is playful. （^ ^。

I've been counting on him every birthday since I met him. He is my everything and birthday wishes from him are special. Thank you Collie, from the bottom of my heart...

If I'm given another chance to fly to Michigan, I will treat myself with Premium Select. It is Delta's premium economy seat class and more comfortable than Economy. 

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  I will look forward to that time.

Best of luck and thank you for everything, Rose

Quick & relaxing dinner at home on the last day in Michigan

We came back from CANTERBURY VILLAGE in Lake Orion. It was a TACO Festival. Though we didn't eat any Mexican food there as we were not so hungry, it was a very fruitful day for me to have experienced where the locals like to hang out on their day off. 

My dinner on the last day in Michigan was at Collie's home. It has a chill vibe so I can relax. I wish I could stay longer, but I am counted as one of the transient population in Michigan and have to go back to Tokyo tomorrow. Hectic work in a bustling city is waiting. 

I rustled up burrito-like food with gluten-free tortillas, served with sauteed broccoli with garlic. I was able to use in time the tortillas I chose at Kroger! My own style Mexican food😓  I wonder if he used the rest of the tortillas later... 

He said he didn't want my broccoli, but I gave him some😆  He found it's palatable after the first bite. He has a mysterious beef sandwich that he bought extra the other day, trying to make it healthier by adding some lettuce.

 。◇゜。◇゜。◇゜dessert ◇ time   。◇゜。◇゜。◇゜

KEY LIME CHEESECAKE from ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP

Collie finally eats his cheesecake tonight!  I also took out my cake: the rest of red velvet cake and carrot cake which became much smaller... I've been enjoying my cake over a couple of days😄

It's lovely to spend our evening by taking it easy at home. Just being together, I feel comfortable. I feel safe just being with him. I spent the last day of my stay in Michigan, relaxing like that.

Fun shot with Great Tiger & Great Akuma at CANTERBURY TACO FEST 2023 and more★

CANTERBURY VILLAGE in Lake Orion, Michigan marked its 30th anniversary in 2023. Congratulations!  Collie & Rose visited CANTERBURY TACO FEST on June 25th, 2023.  I will show you how we spent it with photos.

Canterbury Castle   2325 Joslyn Rd, Lake Orion, Michigan 48360, United States

Collie took me to CANTERBURY VILLAGE, saying, "You must like the TACO FEST!"   I was not sure why he thought so, but let's play it by ear and see where our day takes us.

For me, CANTERBURY VILLAGE has a Christmas or winter season image. I used to see Christmas ornaments and do shopping here. This is probably the first time I've been here in early summer. 

Walk around and look at the stalls and other things...

DONUT SUNDAE??  I haven't seen this before, but that makes sense. A donut nestled next to vanilla ice cream is drizzled with caramel sauce and whipped cream. It's a signature treat of YATES. Yum...

TACO EATING CONTEST at TULIP STAGE

I am sending a cheer unconsciously with a lot of spectators. Collie might have thought I liked TACO FEST because of this event...😅

The winner was a woman on the left. The way a guy looks at her while eating is humorous. Good job, everyone!

Collie is trying to buy something. :3  It was a chocolate chip cookie. I found he sometimes buying a cookie in this trip of mine. We took a seat and had a rest while chatting. I took a bite of the cookie. I thought the one he bought at ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP in Royal Oak was hands down the best.

BALLET FORKLORICO DE DETROIT at CHAPEL STAGE

It's a community-based dance company dedicated to preserving rich Mexican culture with dance and music. The dance expresses life and spirit of Mexican people through its movement and tune. 

ALL-STAR WRESTLING at YATES STAGE

I was privileged to take a picture with Great Tiger & Great Akuma. They were both very welcoming! What gentle eyes Great Tiger has! I was moved. When I said "I'm from Tokyo." to Great Akuma, he responded by saying "Hajimemashite", which meant 'Nice to meet you'. It was a wonderful experience. I am grateful to Collie for suggesting my standing in line with the audience for a picture with Great Tiger & Great Akuma.   ＊Akuma means Devil.

Throughout the festival, we tried to search numerous food trucks for the best TACO, but we missed eating it. The main reason is we weren't so hungry in spite that we liked Mexican food. We didn't eat traditional Mexican dish TACO, however, we really had a good time at CANTERBURY TACO FEST 2023 in Lake Orion, Michigan. It was held in 2024, too. You can read more details about the festival on this site. → https://www.canterburyvillage.com/event/canterbury-taco-fest/　Have a nice day!

Singing with love & a wonderful gift at St.Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion, Michigan.

I like attending Mass at St.Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion, Michigan. I come here every time I stay in Michigan. I like to sing hymns, say a prayer aloud with participants, and listen to the priest's preach trying to understand English as much as possible as I am Japanese. I especially like singing.

" To sing is to pray twice. "     － St.Augustine

Singing adds to our praise and worship of God.

We praise God with all our heart and voice. Singing helps us to communicate with invisible being. 

How great it would be if I could come here with Collie every week. But I'm grateful that I could come here again. I cherish this valuable moment. 

Then after Mass, I have something to look forward to.

Collie: "I can't believe you eat a donut!"     Rose: "Why not (●- -●).."

When you come out of the chapel, there is a room opposite where coffee & sweets are prepared. Donuts were being served today. Can you resist getting a donut??? And look at this fresh coffee!

Collie didn't take a donut. I know I've already eaten a cheesecake, carrot cake, and a red velvet cake, however, I'll have to go back to Japan soon and today is the only opportunity to be able to enjoy coffee & a donut at St.Joseph!

It's still vivid that a little girl smiled at me shyly, gently when she handed out a donut to me. It was so cute and made me happy. The time with palatable coffee & a donut was a wonderful gift for me.

St.Joseph Catholic Church

715 N Lapeer Rd, Lake Orion, Michigan 48362, United States 

The power of sacred music increases the honor given to God by the Church in union with Christ, its Head.

I think going to church together with a beloved one is the best date. It's also a wonderful gift.  Now I pray.   May the power of God be with you on your journey and protect you always...