２月２３日（月曜日）２０２６
　朝から降り止まない雪。取り敢えず午後になって雪かきを試みました。朝は３０センチほどだった積雪がさらに２、３０センチ増えて私の腿のあたりまできています。

　私は勝手口の方から、娘は玄関の方から人が通れるだけの雪を空けていくことにしました。時折、風と一緒に吹き付ける雪に娘は向こうでワァ〜ッと声を出していますが、懸命にシャベルを動かしています。私は、上のほうから３段階に分けて雪を脇へ放り投げていきます。こんな深い雪はここ数年経験したことがありません。先ごろの青森辺りの大雪はこんなものではなくご苦労を思いました。
　
　角地なので歩道の雪空けは他所より大変で取り敢えずは半分だけ終わり、幅も言われているより狭いですが、休憩後にまた再開ということで家の中に入りました。お茶を飲んで一息つきながら、互いの奮闘を讃え合いました。

The snow has been constantly falling since morning. I decided to eliminate the snow in the afternoon with my daughter. it accumulated to about two feet which was higher than this morning.

I started working from the entrance of the side door of the garage, and my daughter did this from the main door. The snow blew strongly with the wind sometimes and I could hear my daughter screaming about it but she was shoveling hard. I eliminated the snow in three steps. First I took the surface snow and threw it away, second I took the next level of snow away, and thirdly I took the bottom of the snow and threw it away. I have never experienced such heavy snow in these several years. I deeply sympathize with the people in the Aomori area who had much heavier snow accumulation this winter and were damaged by it.

Since our house stands in the corner, eliminating the snow on the sidewalk is much harder than a regular house. We finished the work only halfway at this time and the required width for eliminating based on the instruction from the police was not enough, but we decided to take a break and do it again after the break. While having a hot drink, we praised each other's hard work.

２月２３日（月曜日）２０２６
　ボストンは今回もかなりの雪になりそうです。
昨夜はまだそれほどでもなかったので、大したことはないかと高を括っていたのですが、今朝は結構な積雪量になっていました。

　地域の警察から電話で路上に止めている車は除雪車が通るので撤去しておくように、また各家の前の歩道は３６インチ（約９１センチ）は
除雪しておくように、との指示が出ていました。学校や職場はもちろん閉鎖で、娘も家におり、医師との面談がある夫も病院ではなくZoomで話すことになりました。朝８時、外を見ると時折除雪車が雪を退けていますが、それ以外に車も人も姿はありません。

　今日は一日降り続くようで、除雪機のない我が家は人力で雪かきをするのですが、近所はまだ誰も出ていないので我が家もタイミングを見計らっています。運動を兼ねて私も娘と雪かき、頑張ります！

    We expect heavy snow in Boston again similar to the last snowfall which was 3 weeks ago. Actually I underestimated the amount of snow, because it was not falling much last night, but everything was covered in heavy snow this morning.

　Last night we received instructions from the local police by phone that if you park the car on the street, you should move it because it gets in the way of snowplows. Another instruction was that we need to eliminate the snow on the sidewalk in front of the house 36 inches in width. All schools and workplaces are closed for this emergency situation, so my daughter is staying at home and my husband will talk to the doctor by zoom instead of meeting in person. As of 8 a.m., snow plows are running but no cars and people can be seen.

According to the weather information, the snow will be falling all day long. Since we don't have a snow blower, we need to eliminate the snow by hand and we are wondering when we should go out to shovel the snow because I don't see anybody outside now. I think shoveling will be a good exercise. I will do it with my daughter and I am excited about it!

２月１８日（水曜日）２０２６　

　リハビリを兼ねて気になっていた銀行とドラッグストアまで歩いての外出。歩道の雪はほとんど溶けていたものの、所々ぬかるみやまだ雪が残っていたりで杖と娘がそばについてくれたのが有り難かったです。家の中で歩くのとは違い、結構な距離で足はガクガク次第に棒のようになりましたが、何とか用事と買い物を済ませて帰り着き一安心といったところです。

　帰る途中に新しく建て替わった街の図書館に入ってみました。去年の夏はまだ工事中でしたが立派な出来上がり。中は旧暦のお正月を祝う飾りつけもされて、前とは全然違います。ガラス越しに向こうは子供の本のセクションがあり、子供が騒いでも大人が静かに本を読んだり探したりするのに何の問題もありません。色々な工夫に感心するばかりでした。

I went to the nearby bank and drugstore in Belmont Center by foot. My walk was also good rehabilitation for my recovering leg. Although the snow on the walkway had already melted, there was still some snow left partially or in puddles, so I appreciated having support with a cane and my daughter's assistance. Walking outside was very much different from walking inside a house. My legs were wobbly and became stiff like a stick, and I was relieved to come back home after finishing my errands and shopping.

On the way back home, we stopped by Belmont public library which was rebuilt last year. When I saw it last summer, it was still under construction, but it was completely finished and became a splendid library. When we walked in the library, we saw some decorations for the Chinese New Year and it was much more spacious than the old library. The Children's book section was divided by the glass wall so people could read or look for their books without being bothered if kids make any noise. I was impressed by those ideas.

２月１４日（土曜日）２０２６
　今日はバレンタインデー。といっても我が家は至って静かで何も特別なことはありません。それでも、ちょっとだけ楽しいことを考えました。高齢になったお隣のご夫婦に小さい贈り物をしたのです。

　最近は私も留守で、お隣とのお付き合いはほとんどなく、会えば挨拶をするぐらいです。今の家に引っ越してきたのが、娘が２歳ぐらいの時。以来ハロウィンには希望する動物の衣装を私が作ってそれを着た娘がご近所を回るのをお隣は楽しみに待っていてくださいました。その娘も今では子供がいてもおかしくないほどの歳になりました。

　その娘から、去年のハロウィンにお隣のMさんが我が家の玄関先にお菓子を娘宛に置いてくださったと聞きました。後日お返しに娘は小さい贈り物をお隣のドアの前に置いたそうです。今回は私がボストンにいることもあって、何か喜んでいただける小さな贈り物をしようと考えて、カードと一緒に日本から持ってきたお菓子を袋に入れてお隣の玄関先に置きました。Mさんとご主人のNさん、今年もお元気で過ごしてくださいますように......

Today is a Valentine's Day but we don't do any particular activity in my home. I had, however, a little bit fun idea for my neighbors who are getting older than us. It is a small gift for them.

Since I have spent only a few days in Boston these past years, I have few neighbourhood relationships now and only give greetings when I meet them. When we moved to the current house, my daughter was about two years old. Since then, when Halloween Day came, they were waiting for my daughter who wore an animal costume which was her wish and every time I made it for her, we would visit their house. Now my daughter is grown up.

Well, I heard from my daughter that last Halloween, Ms. M, my next door neighbor, gave some sweets to her and put them in front of our front door. My daughter put some small gifts in return in front of her house to show her appreciation. This time, I would like to give a small Valentine's gift to them. We put a card and some candies from Japan at their doorstep. I wish Ms. M and Mr. N's a healthy and wonderful year ahead.

２月１２日（木曜日）２０２６
　ボストン３日目。外は晴れて、気温も０度Cぐらいでボストンの冬にしては穏やかな天気です。

　思ったほど回復が早くない私の足と付き合いながら、家の中で歩行練習やリハビリ運動を取り敢えずやっています。前回来た時に約束しておいた掛かりつけ医との検診や歯のクリーニングの予約は、雪の残る道を歩くのは危険と考え、どちらもキャンセルしました。ですから、窓から景色を眺めるだけで、外の空気はまだ一度も吸っていません。冷蔵庫にあるもので食事を作ったり、洗濯したり、繕い物などで時間を潰しています。本を読んだりもできるのですが、ぼんやりYouTubeを見たりで、目下、怠けひきこもりの毎日です。

It is the third day since I came to Boston. The temperature in Boston is about 0°C and it is mild winter weather for usual Boston standards.

My leg is not recovering as well as I thought, and I have been practicing walking and undergoing rehabilitation inside the house. I canceled the appointments for a meeting with my primary doctor and dental cleaning which I made reservations for when I was here last time because it's dangerous for me to walk on a road that still has snow. Therefore, I have been staying at home and even haven't gotten some fresh air yet. I cook using vegetables and meat in the refrigerator, washing clothes, stitching clothes and socks if necessary. I have time to read books but rather watch YouTube blankly. Right now, I am spending my days as a lazy reclusive person.

２月９日（月曜日）２０２６

　先ずは日曜日に吹雪の中を彦根文化プラザまで朗読を聴きにきてくださった皆様に厚くお礼申し上げます。

　さて、翌日はボストンへ発つ日。帽子もバッグパックも真っ白になりながら、右手に杖、左手は娘の腕につかまって必死に駅まで歩きました。近江鉄道も新幹線も雪で遅れていたため、取り敢えずは予定通りの列車に乗車。米原駅では積雪防止に両側のホーム下から線路めがけて勢いよく水が噴射されていました。静岡駅を過ぎていくつものトンネルを潜った後に、突如、富士山が窓いっぱいに現れました。思わず手を合わせたくなるようなあまりに見事な富士の姿でした。

　飛行機は夕方の便でしたが、成田空港で余計な予定を入れた為、今回はあちこち歩くはめになり、おまけに出発ゲートが一番端。リハビリを兼ねてとはいえ、歩いた距離は長く長く正直、泣きたくなる程でした。

　これからしばらくは極寒のボストンで過ごします。また色々な報告ができたらと思っています。

First of all, I would like to thank the people who came to our reading performance at Hikone Bunka Plaza on such a snowy, stormy day.

Well, the next day was the departure day for Boston. In the snowy morning, I walked to the local station holding a cane in my right hand and my daughter's arm in my left hand. Both our hats and backpacks were white with snow, and it was miserable. Due to the snow, the local railway and Shinkansen were delayed. We saw the water strongly spurting out from both under platforms to the rail in order not to let the snow accumulate on the rails.

Passing Shizuoka Station and several tunnels, we suddenly saw Mt. Fuji out of our left window. It was so beautiful and powerful.

The departure time of our flight was in the evening, but since I had plans at the airport, we needed to move to several places in the airport, and the gate of our flight was the farthest, so we needed to walk a lot and it was really a burden for me.

I will spend days in Boston where it is the coldest season. I would like to give interesting reports from here.

２月７日（土曜日）２０２６

　手術前に、リハビリを終えて退院したらもう少し動けると思っていたのは私の妄想でした。実際は足の付け根からの筋肉の張りが酷くて、色々な動作がまだ大変です。滋賀に帰ってからも、心配して電話をかけて下さる方、見に来てくださる方、皆様のお心遣いには本当に感謝です。

　しばらくはカフェを休んで家でゆっくりしていましたが、今日は以前からのランチの予約が２組入っていたので、久しぶりに前日から準備をして、近くのY.Fさんのお手伝いと慣れないながらも一生懸命手伝おうと動いてくれた娘のおかげで何とか食事が提供できました。数日前に掛けた床の間の涅槃図を座敷のお客様に見ていただけたのも幸いでした。

　高宮のM.Fさんが訪ねてくださり、電話で落としたものを取るのに苦労していると話したことで、お菓子と一緒に何とハンドキャッチャーをお持ちくださいました。ご自身も以前、同様の手術をなさったことから、術後の苦労をよくご存知だったのでしょう。物を取るだけでなく、石油ストーブの調節もこのキャッチャーでできました！Mさんには感謝するばかりです。

　週末は多賀町の公民館まつり。私の所属する朗読サークルも明日、宮沢賢治の「セロ引きのゴーシュ」を発表します。下手で楽長（指揮者）から文句を言われ続けるゴーシュは毎晩夜を徹して練習します。そんなゴーシュのところへ動物たちが来て交流するうちに、ゴーシュは楽長の指摘を一つずつクリアーしていきます。何をしても上手にならない自分自身と重なり、賢治のこのファンタジーは切ないながらも温かな気持ちになる作品です。上手には読めませんが、聴いてくださる方がいれば嬉しいです。日曜日は彦根の文化プラザでも発表いたします。

I was imagining that I could move more smoothly when I got discharged from the hospital where I received some rehabilitation already but it was my imagination. My left leg muscle below my hip joint is stiffening up and it is still very hard to do the daily movement. Many of my friends visited me or made phone calls to ask how I am doing after coming back to Taga, and I thank all for their consideration.

I have been resting and relaxing at home, but I prepared lunch yesterday for the first time since being discharged from the hospital for two groups, which I already had reservations for in January. Getting help from Ms.Y. F who is my neighbor and from my daughter, I could serve their lunch. I was also happy to show the scroll of Buddha's Nirvana painting to the customers.

In the afternoon, Ms. M.F from Takamiya came to see me and brought a "hand catcher" to me with some sweets. She brought it because she knew that I was struggling to pick things up on the floor from our phone conversation. She had experienced a hip surgery before and sympathized with me very much. The "hand catcher" is very useful not only for picking something up on the floor but also adjusting the lower lever of the room heater. I thank Ms. M very much.

As for this weekend, a cultural festival will be held at a local public hall. I will be giving a reading performance as a member of a reading group. We will read "Gauche the Cellist" by Kenji Miyazawa. It is a fantasy of a poor cellist Gauche who was always having complaints from his conductor, so he practiced so hard every night. Several animals visited him every night and communicated with him. Through the experience, he overcame his problems and grew up to be an excellent cello player. Gauche and I share the struggle to present skillfully. I like this short story very much. I would appreciate it if you could come. We will present it at Bunka Plaza in Hikone on Sunday, as well.

２月３日（火曜日）２０２６
　お昼前に友人のHさんが訪ねてくれて、お土産に立派な恵方巻きをいただきました。実は、恵方巻きのことは聞いたことはありましたが、実際に体験するのは初めてで、節分の日に縁起の良い南南東の方角を向いて無言で巻き寿司を丸ごと食べるのだそう。３種類の立派な太巻きは、それでもハーフサイズとか。Hさんと娘と私で好きな種類を選んで、美味しく頂きました。恵方巻きは私の子供のころにはなかった習慣で、大阪方面の商人が商売繁盛で始めたとのことですが、美味しい太巻き寿司にボストンから来てくれた娘はもちろん大喜び。Hさんには感謝です。

　午後、リハビリがてら多賀大社に厄神斎のお札を買いに行ったら、ちょうど節分の豆まきの午後の部が始まるところで、境内は大勢の人で賑わっていました。還暦を迎えた皆様が赤い頭巾をかぶって、升に入った豆や福餅を撒くというおめでたい光景が見られたのは幸いでした。明日は立春。春が始まります。

My friend, H, visited me before noon bringing Eho-maki (thick sushi rolls which are believed to bring good fortune if eaten while facing the year's good luck direction). Actually I have heard about it, but I've never experienced it. Since H brought three kinds of thick maki, H, my daughter and I chose our favorite one, and ate it. It was so good. In my childhood, we didn't have such a custom. According to the net info., it was started by a merchant in Osaka in order to prosper their business. My daughter, who came from Boston, was very happy with such delicious rolling sushi. I thank H very much.

In the afternoon, I went to Taga Taisha with my daughter to buy Yakujinsai (an amulet of the year). Taking a walk would also be good for me. It was Setsubun (the day before the beginning of spring), and when we arrived at the shrine, Bean-Throwing by the people who celebrated their 60th birthday was just about to begin. A lot of people were gathering in order to get the bean or lucky mochi from the celebrated people who were putting on red hats. It was fun and lucky to be able to see such a seasonal celebration.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring in the calendar which we are looking forward to.