Hiroshima - Day 1

You got the sparkle

Today we're going to Hiroshima. We all meet in the lobby, there's still time. I chat with Leaf 'Sparkle' for a while. Why 'Sparkle'? The Indian-American woman has something that very few people possess. It's a kind of pure good mood, a certain childlike innocence without seeming naive. A kind of charisma that glitters from different angles. It's hard to describe. A certain magic. I tell her exactly that. I've gotten used to speaking such things out loud for a while now. Not for personal gain. 'If I say something nice, I'm sure to get something nice in return.' No, it's just nice to say things out loud. And whatever happens, happens. She's pleasantly surprised and tells me that I'm not the only one who has said that. A few friends have mentioned similar things. She's happy. And out of the blue, she tells me that I have something similar about me too. I try to find words of gratitude. We go back to the lobby, the Techno song and the dance won't leave my mind and body.

Hiroshima

After two rides on the Shinkansen, we reach Hiroshima. We check in and go into the city. It's 22°C and the sun is shining. Finally time for shorts and flip-flops. It took long enough.
It's peaceful here, there's a unique atmosphere. A lightness, despite the 140,000 souls ripped from life. No pain, no sorrow. Something pure.
We go to the ruin in the immediate vicinity of the hypocenter. The rest of the city was no longer existent after the atomic bomb, as it is called here. The residents have left this building as a memorial and pass it on from generation to generation. From up close, it just looks like a dilapidated ruin to me. But when I see the ruin in context later, the image changes. It seems that it always depends on the context. Now it's a memorial to me.

Afterwards, we go to the museum, which was established in 1955. Admission costs 200 yen, about €1.40. I approach this visit with two consciousnesses.

• I will only take a maximum of three photos.
• I will walk through the facility consciously slowly.

The latter reminds me of my Possibility Lab. As the feast manager, many great people stood by my side to create a last beautiful dinner for everyone. I helped serve. When I reached the head, she whispered to me: 'Walk at the speed of love. You're too fast.'
So, I slowed down the speed and added more devotion. And immediately, I understood what she meant. You can really feel it when you consciously slow down, give the moment space and awareness. Not ticking it off like a shopping list, but letting it work. That's when I notice again the people who rush through the facility, taking a photo of every object and hurrying to the next room.
I look at many things, for longer. One thing immediately catches my eye.

A torii that seemingly survived the destruction unscathed. I could interpret and philosophize a lot about it, but instead I let it work on me.
I move on to the next rooms. Objects and pictures are now displayed. I feel it working on me. Not on a cerebral level, I don't even look at most of them. It just works that way.
I see a tricycle, it gives me chills.

In the next room, I read a letter, a message from one person to another beloved person. My throat tightens.
Next to it hangs a farewell letter. I feel my eyes getting moist.
The last thing in the row is excerpts from a survivor's diary. These are messages from a period of over 6 months. It gives me chills, it shakes me, I feel queasy. I leave this room. Based on the writing style, it could've been my diary.

After a while, I leave the museum. Finally. The mood and energy are low. The others slowly trickle in. Leaf first. She asks me how it was for me. I share my experiences. She agrees. It was 'heavy' for her too. She shares. Other people in our group feel the same way. We move on.

The whole group later goes to the restaurant. The whole group? No! A couple populated by deep affection continues to resist being part of the group.

Björn and Olivia are two pleasant individuals. A young couple like shoes and shoelaces, they can't be more than 30 cm apart. I can't recall ever encountering one of them alone in the past week, even if I've encountered them at all. I haven't asked yet how long they've been a couple. There haven't been many opportunities. 😅
It's a shame too, us men also wanted to do something with Björn. Then he would have even more to tell when they get back together. But well, who am I to judge?

The feast on the hot plate

Everyone knows it. You see something for the first time, you're immediately blown away and want to have it, do it, or experience it. You enjoy the sight, but then something gets in the way. Some circles call it 'daily life'. You don't make time for it. It's never a question of time, every day has 24 hours. It's always about priorities. And eventually, it disappears from your mind and you see something else for the first time.

I have such things too. When I enter the restaurant, I don't expect what comes next. We go to the second floor, turn left, and I'm almost overwhelmed with joy. We will be sitting right in front of the cooking area. I'm as excited as a little child. And rightfully so. I think it will be good. Later I will realize that I was mistaken. Because it wasn't good, it was fantastic.

When Japanese people engage in their activities, they do so with a lot of focus and mindfulness. They focus on just one thing, but they do it right. I only have casual conversations, because the real entertainment is right in front of me. It's a Chinese folk circus performance. With food. On a 10m² area. In Japanese.
The two chefs prepare the food with skillful hand movements. Every one of them is sitting down, and it's fun to just watch what's happening. I could have watched the chef for 30 minutes, smashing one egg after another on the table with her right hand, holding it over the cooking surface, and cracking the egg cleanly and evenly with just one hand, something I can't even do with two hands.

It's been another successful day. Demanding due to the grief, yes. But grief is like the crust of a pizza of life. I could do without the crust, with a limited stomach I prefer the fruity tomato sauce and the topping in the middle rather than the sad crust. But there's no pizza without crust. It has its place. And with cheese, it's much more enjoyable. 😅😁