I left NYC in the early morning darkness on December 1st, onwards to my vacation in Osaka, Japan, my old home for almost a decade long ago. More on my long wonderful history with Japan will be woven through these writings as I turn 50 and celebrate the whole month of December by visiting this place of my past and present, reflecting on my adventurous journey through this life so far and musing on all the possibilities for my future self. I was moving from the west into the east and into the light.
I watched the sun rise from the airport in Hong Kong on a brief layover spent in search coffee. As the plane rose to leave Hong Kong so did my spirits, my excitement building as I was now getting closer to the open promise of my December vacation. The sun was almost too bright as I stared out the window looking at the sea of clouds that spread out and looked as solid as a never ending field of powdery snow. I imagined myself gliding across it, my coat flapping in the wind, free and fast.
Landing at Kansai International airport in Osaka is always a homecoming to me. I remember flying into KIX years ago when I lived in Japan, coming home from my annual vacation to visit my family in the states, on the day it opened. I christened the airport and I always smile anytime I walk through it wondering, other than a number of employees, what other passenger can say they were there on its first day. Sunset in Osaka. Technically within the same 24 hour span for me but with the time difference, a new day was ending.
I have been fortunate to travel far and widely and to live and move easily from one place to the next. It is thankfully a part of me that I no longer wonder about but gladly accept and most of all, am so very grateful for.
The familiar train ride from the airport is just long enough for me to get fully acclimatized. Where ever I am staying, I drop bags and head out to walk the neighborhood a bit, stop in at the grocery store to get some favorites and of course more coffee.