love notes

a walk through the mangroves

a run a day keeps the blues away

I actually wanted to run today; I looked forward to it; I was itching to pound the pavement. The lazy in me almost talked myself out of it, but I knew how good I would feel after the fact; not succumbing to the oh so familiar "I'll run tomorrow." Because we all know how that goes. Tomorrow turns into tomorrow's tomorrow, and the tomorrow after that. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed running; I mean, can't wait, have to run, my day isn't complete until I've logged a good five miles (at least). Of course that was a long time ago. When I initially started running, after losing my first "real" job nearly eight years ago, I couldn't stop. It was an addiction, really, to see how far I could run or how fast. Within a year, I ran a marathon. Now I'm happy to leave the house with my running shoes on. When people say they have a "relationship" with running, I totally get it. Even now, when I do muster up the energy to go for a run longer than from the front door to the mailbox, I go "there." I forget about all the day's stresses, and even if I do think about them, a switch goes off and instead of lamenting I begin to problem solve. I get motivated. I seek change. Running has no doubt made me a better person. It has worked wonders on my emotional health. Oh, and the physical benefits are pretty nice, too. So yes, running is indeed a relationship - if you hope to sustain it, at least. When you love it, you make time for it no matter how busy you are or what the day dealt you. For me, running has not only been a reprieve from the hum-drum of my day-to-day routine, it has been an incentive to be the best me. Even if I never run another marathon, I hope running never loses its meaning for me.

playlist as of late

The Girl - City and Colour
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Lovers' Eyes - Mumford & Sons
Look at Miss Ohio - Blind Pilot
La Vie En Rose - Louis Armstrong
King and Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men
Sideways - Citizen Cope
When a Heart Breaks - Ben Rector
People Help the People  - Birdy
Emmylou - First Aid Kit
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Story Board - The Album Leaf

hello blooms

Cherry blossom season has begun here in Okinawa, the first along the Japanese archipelago. A couple friends and I drove to the north end of the island to the annual festival held in Nago where the cherry blossoms flourish along the streets and mountain tops; it is something I have been looking forward to for quite some time. If ever there was a place with stairs, stairs, and more stairs, this had to be it. We climbed and climbed...and climbed some more. (It made me feel less guilty about not going for a long run in the morning.) We saw everything from the obvious cherry blossom to mongoose, eagles, big scary (banana?) spiders, butterflies of every color, and views as far as the eye could see. We walked along the mossy paths that held the scent of cherry in the air, bees humming en masse. It was unusually warm, considering how cold it has been here lately. It was a perfect day. There were just enough clouds in the sky to soften the light, bringing to life each pink petal that hung from its tree. After all the hiking we did, we eventually found ourselves in the valley where vendors lined the streets with fried foods and carnival games. Our favorite among them, was the little ice cream shoppe - an old converted trolley car that had the charm and character of something you would find in San Francisco on a balmy summer's day.

moments in photographs

Living in Okinawa has undoubtedly been one of my favorite experiences. And it's still only beginning. There's so much to see on this island alone. Although this past weekend was spent visiting places I've already been, I am always amazed at how much has yet to be seen and explored, to be captured, in this small slice of the world I am currently inhabiting.

some sweet surprises

I never would have expected to find such beautiful vintage shops here in Okinawa. Everything from the storefronts to the little treasures inside are treated with such care and detail. Even the ambiance was delightful. I enjoyed the space as much as, if not more than all of the jewelry, dresses, and handmade goods. Sepia photographs littered some of the old, wooden tables, and I thought of the stories that they could tell, and how did they end up here? I've never been to France before, but I imagine the boutiques there look and feel like this; feminine and simple. It was near closing time and we had the places practically to ourselves, so we took our time, taking in all of the sweet surprises each little shop had to offer.