I'm on my break now and I went to the shrine near my house to collect some plants. I'm collecting all kinds of plants to press and bring to my washi (japanese paper) making workshop at the end of this month. Hopefully I can make some interesting patterns with the plants to embed in the paper! I love going to temples and shrines. I don't even believe in God but I feel at peace there and like something is protecting me. There was a little homeless cat there, he was laying down behind the wooden entryway, it was almost like he was supposed to be there. He had a lot of scabs and patchy fur. I sat with him for a minute and he really wanted to cuddle but I was afraid to get fleas from him or something so I moved on. The shinto priest was sweaping the leaves off of all the pebbles on the ground with a very traditional handmade broom. The preists wear light turqoise pants and a white top (which looks the same as a karate top) and tabe shoes. I wish I was a better writer so I could really describe what everything looks like and how it felt to be there but I can't...
When I was leaving I saw two kittens!! I played with them and scratched their bellies, then a really old woman with dimentia came over with her walker to watch me. She was giggling as I played with them and I asked her questions but she couldn't talk so she just responded with gestures. She watched and giggled for a while then she noticed the tattoo on my forearm. She began gesturing at her arm and came over to look at my tattoo. Her face became really serious and I was worried she was afraid or would get angry at me. Elderly people here don't like tattoos because until recently they've always been associated with the Japanese mafia. She came and touched one of the Japanese maple leaves tattooed on my arm and began pointing down the street. I thought maybe she was afraid and telling me to leave but I think maybe she was telling me there's a Japanese maple tree down the street. So, I got up and left because I didn't want to upset her, but she continued to look at the kittens and giggle and look at me. It was kind of nice:)
