Quoting Bhagavad Gita

 "Respect what happens happens

what happened is the only way

that would have happened

 there

is no would have could have

should have.  I quote that always."  

Celebrating Tracy's Birthday

 We had a nice celebratory dinner at a new place called "Bacari" on 2nd street. Happy Birthday Tracy! 

Day 9 Friday October 16 the Gala

 We stayed home all day. It was cold and windy.  We left the house at 5:00 for the Gala.  We were one of the first to arrive and we strolled around and took pictures.  

Stressed Out

 

How to de-stress:

Be Active

Take control of what you can

Connect with People

Create "Me time"

Challenge yourself set goals

Avoid unhealthy habits

Help others

Be Positive 

 

Old Pictures

 "Sometimes I look at an old picture

and find myself smiling at things

I didn't even know I'd miss,

at people, places

and little moments

I never thought I'd lose.

and sometimes,

I look at the same picture

and wish I could go back.

not to change a single thing,

but to feel that happiness

without knowing how

things would end.

It's strange how we keep the pictures, 

even when life moves on without them.

the picture stays the same,

it's the person looking at it

who has changed."  

Infinite Possibilities

 

"Live your life with an appreciation of

coincidences and you connect with the field

of infinite possibilities."  

Be of Good Faith

 "the good days won't last forever.

Neither will the bad ones.

So when life is good, stop worrying

about what could go wrong.

Be Present. Enjoy it.

Appreciate what you have.

and when life gets hard, 

don't convince yourself that this 

is how your story will end.

Pain changes, 

circumstances change.

Life keeps moving.

You don't have to fear 

losing the good days

and you don't have to lose 

hope during the bad ones.

Nothing stays the same forever. Learn

to appreciate the good,

and have the courage

to endure the bad."

 

 

Ken Uchida's Memorial Service

Mr Tarnovsky

 

I took ballet with my sister Jocelyn in the 1970's. I would drive to a ballet studio in Pasadena. This was my teacher a russian man named Mr. Tarnovsky. 

 

Happy 95th Birthday Aunt Marge

Nothing is Impossible

 

"Pretend impossibilities 

are Possible.

They Are!"  

the Power of Visualization

 " the practice of imagining what you want to achieve in the future, As if it were true today. It directs your subconscious to be aware of the end goal you have in mind. "

 

One Day

 

"One day

you will learn 

how to give and receive love

like an open window

and it will feel like summer

every day."  

Be Thankful

 

 

"It is easy to spend so much time thinking about what is missing

that we forget to appreciate what is already here.  Be thankful for the people who still love you, the memories that still make you smile, the lessons that made you stronger, and the quiet moments that give your heart a chance to breathe. Life does not have to be perfect to be beautiful. some of the greatest blessings arrive quietly and are noticed only when we slow down.  Take a moment today to look around and recognize how far God has brought you. You may not have everything you once imagined, but you have more reasons to be grateful than you realize."   

Be Patient

 "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your HEART 

and try to Love the Questions themselves.  Do not seek

the Answers that cannot be given you.

Because you would not be able to Live them...

and the point is to Live Everything. 

Live the questions now.  Perhaps you will be 

gradually ---without knowing it, Live along some

Distant Day  into the Answer." -Raier Maria Rilke

 

 

May this day be the Beginning of a Joyful life my dearest, one of freedom for heart and spirit and the ability to see the beauty in your world.  

Home again Jiggety jig

A nice sunday. Good to be home again.  

Day 10 Saturday October 17 Departure day

 We packed and got ready to leave. I think the uber picked us up at 11:00 and we got checked into our respective flights.  Our gates were nearby so we sat with each other for awhile.  Both flights went smoothly and we arrived to our homes safe and sound.  It was a really nice week with Jocelyn and Vicente. I was grateful to have their company all week long. 

Day 8 thursday October 15

 We had a lazy morning at home and watched "Love is Blind" in Holland.  In the afternoon we took an uber to the San Fernando Cathedral and then walked to the Mexican Village shops.  It was very hot. We went home and ate leftovers and then took an uber to the Mc Nay Art Museum in Terrell Heights.  It is a lovely 1929 Mansion which features modern and contemporary art. It is free on thursday evenings from 4-9PM. 

Day 7 Wednesday October 14

 We had a leisure morning at home then spent several hours at the Witte Museum. We took and uber there but it was located so close to our airbnb that we later walked home. 

After the museum we crossed the street and ate at a chinese restaurant Kung Fong. Jocelyn said of all the good places we have in Monterey Park why would we choose to eat chinese food in San Antonio. Oh well we did, then we walked home in the heat at 4:00.  A quiet evening at home watching more of the baking show from England.  

Day 6 Tuesday October 13

 We stayed home until 1:00 and then took and uber to the Gardens. We were able to soak in the beauty and the peaceful quiet of a weekday there.  At 2:00 we met up with Bobbi and Le Roy Kroll from the Travis Park Church where she is the historian. We sat for an hour and a half chatting about the family and the history of the gardens. The church has an amazing community outreach program and truly helps the homeless and less fortunate. 

We relaxed and cooled off at home and then had a nice dinner at La Fonda owned by the Lawton family, the same family that leases the Jingu house at the gardens for the cafe services. After dinner we took an uber downtown to the Gunter Hotel and walked around and then looked for the posters that David Pesche' made for the Jingu Celebration.  We then walked to  the River Walk and took an evening boat ride.  It was still a warm evening but a nice way to end the day.  

Day 5 October 12 Monday

 It's very hot in San Antonio so we mostly stay in until we are set to catch the uber.  We met Sonya for lunch at the Pearl district.  A fun area of gourmet shops and cafes and shops. 

That night Vicente made us a nice pasta dinner and a salad. We watched the English Baking show. 

Day 4 October 11 Sunday

 Mike and I woke up early.  We went to French Place to look at the house that grandma and her kids moved to in 1942.  

We were surprised to meet the women that lived there. They let us see the inside of the home.  It was a nice way to end the trip and to see the home.

 

Jocelyn, Vicente and I went to church at Travis Park Methodist church downtown.  It was a big church and very welcoming. They gave us a mug and a rainbow shawl. It is a progressive church welcoming everyone.  Pastor greeted us warmly and were happy we could attend the service.  Lots of singing and a great 10 commandments message. When we returned home Mike had left for the airport and Aria and family were about to leave.  We closed up the airbnb and moved on to the next one. In the uber we passed the elementary school where the Jingu kids attended.  We rested til the evening and took an uber downtown to Sonya's hotel and met her for drinks and dinner.  On our own now for the next week til the Gala.  

Generational Joke

 

Day 3 The Big Day "Centennial Celebration for the Jingu House"

 The big day is here! We relaxed and then made our way to the river walk to the family luncheon also planned by Aria. We met at noon at "Casa Rio" for a buffet lunch with the family. This lasted until 3:00.  Aria and her family left around 2:30 for a river boat cruise.  We left shortly before 3:00 to go to the gardens.  Once there we found parking and walked to the pavilion.  Lots of activity and people as it was an all day festival with "animae" and vendors at the Mexican village below the gardens.  At 4:00 there were photo opportunities and a reserved room with air conditioning for the family in the Jingu House.  It was a hot hot day.  The room also had iced drinks for us which were very welcomed. 

At 5:00 there were Taiko drummers from Corpus Cristi and then the program began at 5:30 and lasted til about 7:00.

After the program we had a chance to talk with visitors and then finally relax and eat and enjoy the company of family. I was relieved to have my speech over and now could enjoy the night with everyone.  

Day 2 Friday October 9th Family Reunion

 We had a leisure morning at he airbnb.  Aria and family arrived last night close to midnight. This morning the kids entertained us.  We got ready to leave the house around 9:15 for the Maverick-Carter House tour at 10:00 downtown. Mike took the Sofia and Rocco for an adventure while Joce and Vicente, Aria, Daniele, Michael and myself went to the tour. 

 We had a good time at the tour which lasted 1 1/2 hours.  David Pesche' was there and brought his collection of Tea garden memorabilia.  We took pictures with two members of the Carter family. It was a very interesting tour with many overlapping connections between the Maverick, Carter and Jingu families. 

 

 At 2:00-4:30 Aria, Pati and I headed to the gardens to meet up with Jack Morgan for an interview. At 3:00 we met up with the garden ceo Mary Jane Verette and her team along with the cousins on the planning committee to do a walk through of the event on Saturday. 

at 5:00 we all headed to "Elsewhere" the gathering outdoor venue Aria had arranged for the family friday drinks and dinner. 

 

Day 1 Arrival San Antonio

 The flight went smoothly from Long Beach to San Antonio. We had a stop over in Dallas and then arrived in San Antonio where we picked up the rental car. From there Mike surprised me with a trip to the Cemetery where Granpa Jingu is buried. San Fernando Cemetery 3

1735 Cupples Rd. San Antonio.

 

 

 

 

 We stopped at the information booth to get directions to his gravesite.

After that we went to the Tea Gardens at 4:00. It was a brief visit as they close at 5 PM.  The gardens looked beautiful.

 Went to check into our Airbnb and soon after Jocelyn and Vicente arrived.  Mike and Joce and Vicente went to the market.

 

Around 6:30 Pati and Stuart arrived and we spent several hours catching up, laughing and eating and drinking. Stuart made us laugh with his Icelandic impressions and his funny video.

  

 

Lessons Abound - Texa Here We come

 

"Never a failure,

always a lesson."  

 

Be That Person

 

"Be the Kind of person that you want to meet." 

 

Happy Heavenly birthday Mom

 Ruth Emiko Jingu Yamadera born October 5, 1917 San Antonion Texas. Passed away July 27, 2006

Your love and your laughter are with us still.  You gave us such a wonderful shining example of how to love and how to be kind to others.  You live on through all of us.  

 

 

Create Happiness

 

"Create Happiness

Make a Wish

Take Chances

Sing in the Rain

This is your life,

Make it

Beautiful."  

Karma

 

How people treat you

is their Karma;

How you react is yours. -Wayne Dyer

Conductor Of Light

 

"You yourself may not be luminous, but

you are a conductor of light."  

 

October

 

 

"Fall is in the air, bringing with it the beauty of the leaves changing, cozy nights spent reading or cooking with loved ones, and plenty of pumpkin goodies."  

"autumn serenades the breeze into dancing a cha cha cha; the mountains echo in the background. October sky never looked more charming nor the sublime leaves of the trees so graceful." Avijeet Das 

Jingu House Festival October 10, 2026

 

 

The Jingu House c. 1919

 

This is just a heads up to all friends of my family. My grandparents Kimi Eizo and Miyoshi Jingu’s home at the historic San Antonio Japanese Tea gardens in Texas will be celebrated on Saturday October 10, 2026. It is the 100 year anniversary of the Jingu house celebrating opening of “ the Bamboo room “ and when the family first began to serve tea, and light snacks to the public. There is going to be special events on the garden grounds. 35 Jingu family descendants will be in attendance coming from New York, Vermont,Idaho ,California, Florida , Texas and across the country. If you can join us please do! Family members will be sharing oral histories, and poignant family memories of living in the gardens. Additionally a short film “Tea for Texas” by film maker and grand daughter Lisa Onodera will be shown. There will be a “Q and A” following the film and slide show. If you have never been to the gardens you are in for a magical experience. The city of San Antonio is lovely. Please consider joining us October 10th. I will repeat this again closer to the event date. Please consider joining us.

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the historic Jingu House with a series of public events and a gala in October 2026.

 

Jingu Festival: October 10, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Japanese Tea Garden. Features live entertainment, cultural experiences, and street food. (Free admission and parking

honoring a century of legacy

The Japanese Tea Garden began in 1917 when the City of San Antonio transformed an abandoned limestone quarry into one of the city’s most treasured public spaces. In 1926, Kimi Eizo Jingu and his family opened the Bamboo Room, now known as the Jingu House, creating a place of hospitality, cultural exchange, and community.

Today, the Japanese Tea Garden continues to inspire visitors from near and far. As we celebrate this centennial milestone, the San Antonio Parks Foundation is looking ahead to the next century with plans to preserve and enhance this historic space.

Join us for this unforgettable celebration and be part of honoring the legacy, beauty, and future of the Japanese Tea Garden.

Quote Written on a Plaque of the New York Library

 "The Universe is not made up of atoms.

It's made up of stories."  

Malabar, Belvedere Jr. High, Roosevelt High School

 

Happiness

 

 

 "Happiness in not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."-Dalai LamaXIV

How We Survived Lock down 6 years ago

 

I Agree

 

This Is My Answer too!

 

Happy Birthday Mike

Happy 6th Birthday Rocco

Let's Do This

 

Sitting By The Dock Of The Bay

“We’re sitting by the dock of the bay…”our morning nod to Otis Redding. When we first arrived it was overcast and jacket worthy. Now it’s perfect, and beautiful and most peaceful. I’m listening to this book called “This book made me think of you”. Audible books are great sometimes. I can listen to someone reading a story to me while I am free to gaze at the boats and the blue sea in front of me. Just what I need right now. I looked on the ground by my feet. I spotted the tiniest orange flower. So small I’m sure it’s not seen by most. I spoke to the tiny flower. I said “I SEE you and you are so pretty.”

Have a wonderful Sunday wherever you are.

 

A Little Yayoi Kusama Never Hurt anyone

 

September Birthdays for the Book Club Babes

My book club had a wonderful time yesterday celebrating four Sept birthdays   Kathy, Lynda, Jo and Jeanette at Roger’s gardens Farmhouse restaurant. Halloween decorations abound as do hundreds of pumpkins. 

I Had All of These

 

Memories of Sofia when she was Two years old Italy 2017