Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I’m a Mourner, right? Yeah, that’s a thing. And today in Okegawa, it was like a rollercoaster of feels.
First off, Okegawa is this chill city in Saitama Prefecture, not too far from Tokyo. It’s got that small-town vibe but with a twist. You got the river, the parks, and all these cute little shops. But today? Ugh, today was a whole different story.
I woke up, and it was raining. Like, pouring. I’m talkin’ buckets. I thought, “Great, just what I need.” I had to head to the funeral home on Koshigaya Street. The streets were slick, and I almost slipped on my way there. I mean, come on! I’m already in a bad mood, and now I gotta worry about breaking my neck?
So, I get to the funeral home, and it’s packed. Like, standing-room-only packed. I’m trying to keep it together, but then I see this dude in the corner, just sobbing. I mean, full-on ugly crying. And I’m like, “Dude, we’re all sad here, but chill.” But then I remember, everyone grieves differently, right? So, I just roll with it.
Then, outta nowhere, my phone buzzes. It’s my buddy Kenji. He’s like, “Yo, you good?” I’m like, “Nah, man, I’m at a funeral.” And he replies, “Wanna grab ramen after?” I’m like, “Ramen? Really? Right now?” But then I think, “Why not? I could use some comfort food.”
After the service, I’m walking down Koshigaya Street, and I see this little ramen shop. It’s called “Noodle Nirvana.” I swear, it’s the best ramen in Okegawa. I walk in, and the smell hits me like a freight train. I order the tonkotsu, and while I’m waiting, I can’t help but think about how life is just so unpredictable. One minute you’re mourning, the next you’re slurping noodles.
So, I’m sitting there, and this old lady next to me starts chatting. She’s like, “You know, life is like ramen.” I’m like, “What?” She goes, “You gotta savor every slurp.” I’m cracking up. I mean, she’s not wrong, but c’mon!
After the ramen, I’m feeling a bit better. I stroll over to the Okegawa River. It’s kinda peaceful there, you know? The water’s flowing, and I can see the cherry blossoms starting to bloom. I take a deep breath, and for a second, I forget about the sadness. But then, I see a kid throw a rock in the river, and it splashes everywhere. I’m like, “Dude, chill! You’re gonna scare the fish!”
Then, I get this wild idea. I’m gonna go to the park, right? So, I head over to Koshigaya Park. It’s a nice spot, but today it’s packed with families. Kids are running around, and I’m just trying to find a quiet bench. Finally, I find one, and I sit down. But then, this group of teenagers starts blasting music. I’m like, “Really? Can’t a Mourner catch a break?”
But then, I start to laugh. I mean, life’s too short to be all serious. So, I pull out my phone and start recording a little video. I’m like, “Hey, everyone! Mourning is hard, but ramen and music help!” I’m not even sure if I’ll post it, but it felt good to just be silly for a moment.
As the sun starts to set, I’m walking back home, and I can’t help but think about how weird today was. I mean, one minute I’m crying, and the next I’m laughing with strangers. It’s like Okegawa has this magic to it. The streets, the people, the food—it all just hits different.
So yeah, that was my day. A wild mix of emotions, ramen, and unexpected moments. I guess that’s life, huh? You just gotta roll with it, even when you’re a Mourner in Okegawa.