The other day I went to see two cousins who had encouraged me when my parents were sick. They are about eighty-five years old now. They have some aches and pains, but they seemed fine.

On my way home, I also stopped by a former student’s house to give her a small gift because she had just come home from the hospital. It was a warm and pleasant day. The places I visited were not close to Kurashiki, but I was glad to see everyone doing well.

My cousin on my father’s side now looks a lot like my father, and that touched my heart. It was a busy day, but it left me with a warm and gentle feeling.