3 posts from June 2008

Comfort Shoes 'R Ugly

Jun 30, 2008
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With 45 hours until I get on my first plane, I thought it might be a good idea to do a little post about my footwear and, in doing so, learn to do the video insertion. So, yes, this post is just an excuse to learn something and showcase my excellent videography skills. You'll have to note how carefully I composed this, making sure to get the dog's crate with its open door, the Vera Bradley laptop case hanging on the drawer knob and the bags of today's CVS haul on the floor. I think I've really captured the chaos that is countdown to departure.

It was a couple months ago when I was walking through Macy's with my girl that I smelled the first bound for Oki comfort shoes, literally. If you've ever been within a mile of a really large display of Crocs, you know you smell them before you see them. I found my size in the way neutral color of orange and put them on and asked my girl what she thought. "But Mom, they're Crocs." she said with that judgmental look in her eye and some attitude in her voice. I know, but they don't look too "Croc-y", do they? We all know how we love to hate on Crocks, but we all wish we had 1/10th of a penny for every pair that's ever been sold, too. The Crocs I had on my feet were the one piece, vented, slingback, ballet flat ones. Yes, they are Crocks, true. The very same Crocs that are the weight and feel of a real stale marshmallow, but not as sticky. Here are the main reasons I bought those Crocs: 1 They were cheap, 2 They are orange, 3 They are comfy. 4 They are easy on and off for entering and exiting tatami rooms and Japanese homes. 5 They are waterproof and I will be on Okinawa during the middle of typhoon season. 6 They are indestructible and I remember there are plenty of beaches that I couldn't go barefoot on when we lived there in the 70's because of the coral and I can wear them there.

While we were at the beach for three weeks in the interim between the end of the school year and the journey to Okinawa, I entered for the first time The Walking Co. at the new Pier Park development in PCB. Rachel there patiently heard my story and asked me if I'd ever worn Merrells. I told her I had not worn Merrells because I didn't care for them for me. We looked at lots of "comfort" shoes and it wasn't working for me. Comfort shoes in The Walking Co. can be expensive. And ugly. Rachel told me I needed to really love the shoes I bought and I had a feeling that wasn't going to happen. I was able to walk away.

Within throwing distance of The Walking Co. was Dillard's, where my sister who was with us wanted to go to find some new pj's. I walked over to their shoe department where I met my shoe clerk, Sissy. It turns out Sissy suffers from both Restless Leg Syndrome AND heel spurs and she says when she started wearing Merrells, she was miraculously cured. You can't make this stuff up. Ask my sister. I deserve an Oscar for keeping a straight face. They had a larger selection of Merrells than TWC and I found a pair that our whole party pronounced "cute". I tried them on. They are mesh, so they are breezy. They are Mary Janes with velcro straps. They have a subtle rubbery "M" on the side and the heel thingy for driving that looks like a pair of Tod's. Well, not really. They are a neutral color. I bought them and then went back the next week after my sister said she saw them on sale at the Oxford Mall Dillard's and I got 40% off! It was meant to be!

Check out the hillbilly video, complete with the dawgs and my narration. Isn't it clever the way I am wearing one of each shoe? It took several takes to get the dawgs to cooperate so beautifully. I zoom on Sugar, too.

Comfortshoe3

Five More Days of Lodging!!

Jun 26, 2008
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My friend Meiko has, once again, come through with reservations, this time for five more days of lodging at Miyagi Minshuku. I have been intrigued by this minshuku since I first read about it and am anxious to experience it for myself. Let me know if you can see why I find this so charming. I trust I'll be able to experience the real, genuine Okinawa here with Masa-san and his family. Click here to find out about Miyagi Minshuku from the blog of a fellow Okinawa traveller. For more info about Miyagi, click here. This is definitely going to be a rewarding experience and one I will remember and treasure for the rest of my life. Meiko told me, without reservation, after speaking with Masa-san that I'd be in good hands with he and his family as my hosts at Miyagi and I wholeheartedly believe her. This minshuku is in a very small village in the northern part of the island of Okinawa and will be a great base from which to explore up there. The northern part of Okinawa is less inhabited and less developed and I'm looking forward to exploring the beauty of this region. Okinawans are known for their warmth and kindness and generous spirits and beautiful, ready smiles. I just know I will experience all of this at Miyagi! Thank you, again, Meiko!

Welcome to the Hotel Okinawa

Jun 1, 2008
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"Amerika kara denwa o kakete imasu. Eigo o hanashimasu ka?" This is what I said a few nights ago when I counted to 100 and took a deep breath and dialed that long number to take me to the person at the other end of the phone, at the other end of the earth, at the Super Hotel in Naha. I had waited until 11PM here so it would be 13 hours later on Okinawa, noon there. My goal for the day was to have my Naha reservations made and I had waited until the last very last minute to do it. On line, I couldn't accomplish my goal since I couldn't find what I needed in English. That's when I used that dab of Japanese above and said what I think amounted to "I'm calling from America. Do you speak English?"

The problem came when the lovely sounding woman on the other end of the phone said in very nice English that she didn't speak english. The conversation was officially over. I really desperately needed for her to say she spoke English. I was willing her to speak English. I stopped short of begging her to try.

I was close to tears. I emailed Meiko, my dear friend, and told her I was close to tears. Last night Meiko and two of our friends and all four of our summer of '92 daughters got together for dinner and bowling. Meiko sensed there was no one more pitiful than me, a girl going to Okinawa with no reservations, and she invited me to her house today to help me do it for me.

I set my alarm this Sunday morning and got out of bed and put on a headband and stopped at Dunkin' Donut for their decaf and went to her house, where barely awake, Meiko the angel was waiting for me. I am eternally grateful to Meiko today, for I am now the proud holder of 8 days worth of lodging reservations on Okinawa at 2 different inns!! Thank you, Meiko. Domo arigatou!!!

We began with the Super Hotel, working from tandem laptops. I'd send her the links to things and she'd pull it up on her computer. She can make sense of the Japanese and type in Japanese and read it all. Meiko successfully reserved my first three nights in Naha at the Super Hotel! Super, indeed! It seems to fit the bill as a good base for me to explore Naha and everything south of Naha. Plus, it is reasonable, 4,980 yen, and it includes breakfast. It is in Shintoshin and about a block from a monorail station. I have another blessing, too, in a friend whose face I can't wait to see, who has offered to take her time to pick me up at the airport and have a meal with me and deliver me to the Super Hotel. How can I possibly repay this goodness and generosity?

Meiko stopped. She stood up. She proclaimed it was time for me to help her "harvest" (her word - love it!) her morning gardenias. No problem. I'd have gladly scrubbed her floors with a toothbrush in gratitude. We went out to her ginormous gardenia bush and she went to work with her shears cutting every one of those open fragrant (in the way only a gardenia can be fragrant) blossoms. There would be more to harvest in the afternoon after the sun warmed them into opening. My job was to take them from her and put them in the pail. When that was full, I ferried them in to the kitchen counter until it was just full of those sweet gardenias. Meiko talks to her gardenia bush and that is why it performs so beautifully for her. It was pure pleasure to watch Meiko walk around that plant, clipping away at those sweet white flowers. I could see the satisfaction on her face. See the photo of me with a mound of gardenias. I really wish you could take a deep breath for yourself of those wonderful and fragrant flowers. I hope this photo will evoke memories and you will smile and recall that fragrance. I am the recipient of jars of these gorgeous specimens, which I took back to my house in a box in the front seat of my car and I am enjoying and I am thinking of Meiko and thanking her.

We got back to the business of reservations and this time, Meiko picked up the phone and called Mrs. Yamauchi at Yamauchi Inn and I now have reservations there from July 7 - 12. It kind of tickled us that there are no confirmation numbers given or credit card numbers requested. We're all on our honor. I like it. I have a place to stay for the first 8 days of my adventure. Two entirely different places in entirely different locations. I would like to stay at Miyagi Minshuku in the northern part of the island for a couple days and Meiko will call about that when they wake up.

But eight days, that is good, Meiko reminded me. This is supposed to be an adventure. Let's not have it too orchestrated. Okay. I'm going with the flow and going where the adventure takes me. But first, I have to stop be still and be present enough to let the gratitude I feel just wash over me.