And We're Off...

So here we are, the first day of the new year and to be quite honest, it really was no different than the past few days have been. Welcome to another day in life during a pandemic. In Japanese culture, there is a belief that the first dream of the new year known as Hatsuyume (初夢) foretells the luck of the dreamer for the upcoming year. It is considered to be a sign of good luck if you dream about Mount Fuji, a hawk or an eggplant (and I don't think they mean what the emoji of an eggplant usually represents *wink, wink*). Quite frankly, I don't ever recall EVER dreaming of Mount Fuji, hawks or eggplants unless I had a dream eating eggplant parmesan that I don't remember. Well, if my first dream of the new year is any indication of my luck for the upcoming year, I'm probably screwed. The one part of my dream that I remember quite clearly was that I was talking with my Mom and she brought up some woman named Neda or Nita. (We don't know anyone by that name so I have no idea where that name came up from.) Anyways, my Mom said that she had this secret that happened when I was born and she wanted to tell me but I had to swear not to tell ANYONE. So jokingly I asked her if I had been switched at birth or if she stole me from another bassinet. She got angry with me and told me to be serious. She said that if I ever told anyone the secret she was about to tell me that I would be killed and reanimated. What the hell?! So I looked at her and said, "Geez, mom...that's horrible to say that you would kill your own daughter if she told a secret that you tell her. I don't want to know. Don't tell me!" And then I woke up. Hmmm...I wonder if there was an eggplant hidden somewhere in that dream that I didn't notice? haha Well, naturally, after I woke up and wished my Mom a Happy New Year, I asked her if she knew of anyone named Neda and if there were any secrets I should know about that happened when I was born. (I was born in El Paso, Texas.) I asked if I was switched at birth or if she grabbed the wrong baby or something. My mom laughed and said, "Kim, we were the only Japanese people who were in the hospital when you were born!" Of course, I knew that. A lot of people find it hard to believe I was born in El Paso, and I've even had to whip out my passport when I first came to Japan to prove that El Paso, Texas was my birthplace. We couldn't find any connection between the dream and my Mom although she did admit that the other day she was wondering what happened to somebody in the hospital who was there the same time we were. Someone had a baby that they named Oscar and my Mom had randomly wondered what had happened to him and his family. (Is there anyone named Oscar who was born in El Paso in October or November about 62 years ago? Just checking.) As I usually do, I looked up some of those key elements of my dream in a dream dictionary to see what that dream might have been telling me. Interestingly, I guess it could have a hidden meaning, Killing someone or referring to killing someone doesn't necessarily mean death or the act of committing murder. It could represent breaking a habit or ending something that is preventing you from making a change or accomplishing something. Hmmm...should I take it as a sign that I should start breaking my bad habits in order to move forward in 2021?! Food for thought....

Speaking of food, I enjoyed a simple and quiet New Year's brunch with pre-made traditional Japanese New Year food known as Osechi Ryori (おせち料理). Different dishes are eaten for luck, good health and longevity and they are as attractively arranged as they are delicious. My Grandmother always made the traditional food for us and I really wish I would have taken the time to learn all the recipes from her. My Mom isn't a big fan of the traditional food so we just pick up what we like to eat and don't go through the elaborate preparations that most people do on New Year's Eve. You can order sets from different markets, department stores or restaurants. The price can be a little expensive. I usually opt for simple sets you can buy at a reasonable price at the local supermarket. This year, I found a Hello Kitty themed set!

I combined this set with another set I bought at the supermarket and enjoyed my first meal of 2021.

Someday, I will challenge myself and prepare everything, but I think I'll do that when I can share it with friends or guests. When it's just me, I prefer to keep it simple.

The rest of the day was spent pretty much relaxing because I think everyone should be allowed to do whatever they feel like on the first day of the New Year because heaven knows we have a lot of forthcoming challenges ahead.

I feel very blessed and fortunate to be entering this new year with my health, my family, my friends and my job around me, but I'm certainly not going to take anything for granted. I'm not going to even pretend that just because it's 2021 that everything is rosy and wonderful. But I do have faith and I do have hope and I certainly am not going to give up fighting for what I believe in. I am determined to stay strong during 2021. I can't promise people that it's going to be a better one and I'm not one of those people who believe that you can manifest everything you would like to happen. But that's just me.

I think we'll call it a night. Once again, I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may your year be filled with many blessings and good fortune to keep you and your loved ones safe, healthy and happy.