When I was a child, I used to feel strangely excited whenever a typhoon was coming. Maybe school would be closed, or maybe we'd have a blackout and I could play with a flashlight—everything felt like an event. Lighting candles and gathering the family felt a bit like camping, and that was fun.
Even now as an adult, I watch the news of storm damage and think, "Oh no..." But to be honest, part of me treats it like someone else's problem, and my curiosity about scary things makes me keep the channel on. I don't do any grand stockpiling. At most I get a little anxious and buy some CalorieMate,
then end up eating it and gaining weight.
During the typhoon, the hassles and annoyances of daily life pause for a while. I find myself thinking, "I wish this could go on forever..." I feel guilty for saying this when people are suffering from disasters, but the sound of heavy rain can make me feel as if everything is being washed clean, and more often than not I fall asleep.
No rain lasts forever, and no night stays unbroken. When I wake up, a relentless morning sun usually comes pouring in through the window. I mutter, "Ah, annoying…" yet feel oddly relieved, and return to my usual routine, resetting things.
Even if my mind is messy, Namu Amida Butsu is simply there beside me.
Finally, my heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone affected by typhoon damage. May the usual rhythm of daily life return to you as soon as possible.
日本語版note:
凡夫日記～台風にワクワクする心～
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