An emergency message from the US Embassy is always an unwelcome addition to one`s inbox.
Next came an email from school announcing its closure and the imminent arrival of the elated Offspring and their celebrating compadres. This was more distressing than the typhoon as I had a full day planned and nothing in the pantry to keep the hostiles fed for the next 48 hours.
Andretti-san and I scurried around Tokyo getting provisions for the typhoon sit-in. The rain waited for me to run in the grocery store and come out to the street before it launched the assault with an initial big, wet deluge. Through the gloom I could see Andretti-san laughing as he locked the car doors barring my entrance.
Within minutes the street was flooding.
The wind started about 3:00.
The trains stopped running about 6:00.
As usual, anything dangerous grabs the attention of Offspring #1.
Offspring #1 “Can I go ride my bike around?”
Ouisar “No.” Incredulous at this inane request, I was proud that “Where did you leave your brain, son?” did not pop out instead.
Offspring #1 “Nothing`s going to happen.” Disgusted with my superior ability to suck the fun out of the thrill seeking afternoon he had envisioned. Visions of being blown across a field while held three feet off the ground by strong sustained winds were dancing in his head. Yet another adrenaline induced high to add to his growing repertoire.
Ouisar “Branches come off trees- then fall on you- then kill you dead.”A visual would have helped make my point.
Offspring #1 ” Like that`s going to happen.” In his head, “Mom, you ignorant slut.” He parked on the balcony 3 feet from the trees now spinning in the wind.
I knew it was just a matter of time before the proof would prevail thus preventing me from releasing those annoying words, “I told you so.”
The Yoyogi Park walkway was a green carpet of fallen leaves.
A large tree had fallen across the pathway to the park, its neighbor uprooted and leaning precariously toward the ground.
I prefer for the pictures to say, ” Look what could have happened while you were being blown hither and yon….”
Um hmmmm… Did I say that?
I never pass on “before and after” shots in the National Inquirer. These aren`t as entertaining as celebrities transforming themselves in to cartoon characters but certainly the trees also felt like their beauty lost when the typhoon relieved them of the pink blossoms.
After the typhoon:
Just like you, I have often wondered the best way to scour a park of fallen leaves. A witch`s broom:
Somewhere during the chaos, an earthquake occurred. I didn`t notice the increased shaking in the building nor did I hear the tell-tale squeaking of the ceiling preceding a quake since the typhoon was providing all the sound effects necessary to help one feel the power of mother nature.
A phoonquake.
Never did I think I`d experience an earthquake and typhoon at the same time. Andretti-san claims the wind caused the Richter scale to register a magnitude 2. In an earthquake that small it`s very difficult to tell if it is an earthquake or just Spouse walking down the hallway.
The Offspring have been complaining that the number of typhoon days are much fewer than snow days causing them to attend more school than before we arrived in Japan. To this my only response is, “I`m hoping the next country in which we live has a shortened summer.”
A scarier thought than a typhoon seen through the eyes of a teenager.
Hey from Japan- or wherever the moving van arrives- Emily Cannell 
A phoonquake! Love it.
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I know- I love it here. Always somethIng going on.
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Blimey, keep away from any volcanos…because it sounds as if Mother Nature wants you to experience her in all her horrid glory. Been through earthquakes and one hurricane, and that was enough for me. Now glad to be living in a reasonably quiet little island as far as mother nature goes, then again, think eventually we’ll be flooded and disappear one day, when the ice caps melt…oh well…sigh
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There`s something no matter where you are isn`t there? I hope I`m not still around when the ice caps melt though.
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I love”phoonquake!” And, good god, I’m relieved to know the clan survived the double whammy. I thought about you–if that means anything–“Emily’s facing another disaster!” Sounds like the life of someone I know!
Kathy
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I know! It`s feeling a little old hat now. The good news for us is that we`re far enough inland to where the typhoons are severely weakened by the time they get to us.
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A phoonquake?? What’s next– a torricane? Volcanic ice storm?
Glad to hear you’re safe and that Offspring #1 wasn’t involved in this particular adrenaline rush. Getting crushed by falling trees is soooo not cool.
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I like all your imaginative combos- I guess Mt Fuji could erupt again….
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Wow first an earthquake,then radiation and now a typhoon…hmmm sounds a fun place to live LOL!
I love the way you keep your sense of humour and as we say in britain “Stiff upper lip”:)
PiP 🙂
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It is FULL of natural disasters- and of course the man made one. I guess it could be worse…. somewhere…..
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We had a similar experience a few weeks ago with Hurricane Irene. Though here the earthquake came about a week before the hurricane. Does that count? That’s like a ‘canequake. 🙂
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I can`t imagine how scary that was to people who weren`t expecting an earthquake!
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What else’s mother nature will thou on that little island? I admire your sense of yore and your ability to stay sane, when dealing with teenagers;)
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Isn`t that the truth!!!
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Welcome to the wonderful world of hurricanes! The first 3 months we lived in Florida we were (not directly) hit by 4 of them. Our Christmas card that year is a photo of Davis, standing by a street sign on the 4-lane boulevard that runs along the bay, in thigh-deep water with fully bent palm trees and waves crashing over the bulkhead in the background. The inside of the card read “Seasons Greetings from The Sunshine State.” Our evacuation plan is 1) Pack a good cooler; 2) Get the hell out of Dodge. See what helpful friends you have? At least we get ample warning, right? I’ll take a hurricane over a tornado any day.
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Love the card Ashmore! The last hurricane to hit the Galveston coast we found out the fate of our ill fated beach house when a news helicopter flew over it. However- I`m starting to view the natural disasters that are unique to each location as rights of passage. Hurricanes and tornadoes in the South, Blizzards in the North, Earthquakes and typhoons here- but- in the end I`m with you. The one I can get away from with warning is the best in my book.
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Well, one goes abroad to broaden one’s experience! You are clearly taking full advantage of your opportunities:) Certainly makes the odd hot day and icy winter street look rather mild over here. Offspring no 1 obviously shares his mother’s adventurous spirit, just not yet mellowed by experience: it’ll come all too soon I fear.
Glad to hear you have all come safely through yet another Japanese event, gosh how that Island is testing you. Fingers crossed for Mount Fuji’s continued slumbers.
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I went to a Welcome Coffee for the new parents of Middle Schoolers on Monday- it took me a few minutes to figure out why the parents were all so terrified…. Based on the last 6 months I`m surprised any one is willing to move here! Ah well… we`re getting stronger and more resilient each day! But I have lost all my hair.
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That sounds like a cool, new look:)
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Doesn’t it?
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