SUN TEA

Yesterday Echo and I went for one of our walks along the narrow lakeshore road, which took us eventually to our secret wild mint patch, where from the tall plants we picked a whole bag full of the young tip leaf clusters, the most flavorsome part (then the plants grow two new tips in replacement, like basil does).

When we got home I took about five of the clusters, rolled them each between my palms to bruise them lightly, put them in a quart container that I then filled with water from the mountain spring, covered the jar loosely and set it out on the deck railing in the morning sun. I had to move the jar a couple of times before dusk to keep it in the light, 'cause the chestnut tree plays games with its shadow all day long.

Anyway, the increasingly sun-warmed water in the jar grew more and more golden till by the end of day it had compounded into a darkish amber, and the fragrance was metamint. I put the jar in the fridge and had cool mint sun tea with dinner. If in addition to mint you've got any sunshine around, this is the best way to make mint tea. And for free.

SOME THINGS I SAW THIS MORNING

Saw a high school girl on the train platform, alone there among all the suited older males, practicing her cheerleader moves without restraint or the slightest embarrassment. More major changes ahead for Japanese culture.

Saw a veteran commuter guy on the train who carefully positioned a folded handkerchief under his chin before allowing his head to totally loll forward and great quantities of large Zs to pour forth. A real pro.

Saw a ten-year old schoolgirl on the train staring wide-eyed at the foreign man with the long white hair. Having never seen such a thing before, she had trouble believing her eyes. She stared intently and unabashedly, therefore, until her convictions were once again in order and all in her world became normal again, including me.

At the terminus, saw the "Free Hugs!" girl again, alone this time, no takers visible, her sign now dogeared, her benevolence undimmed, a walking beam of sunshine.