Japan’s long holiday has begun, and the city already feels a little different. Fewer commuters, quieter trains—and a mind starting to drift toward days off, even while work still waits.
The long holiday season seems to have started yesterday, with news reports showing a rush of travelers heading overseas.
This morning’s train was only about 60% as crowded as usual, and the stress of commuting was noticeably lighter.
Of course, that comes with its own kind of irritation—more people spreading out and occupying space as if it were entirely their own.
Still, with both office workers and university students away, this time of year is easier to get through.
This year’s calendar is favorable, and with a bit of paid leave, it looks possible to take nearly two weeks off.
Perhaps, once I reach the stage where I need to use up my remaining leave, I might try living that way—almost as a rehearsal for retirement.
But not this year.
Yesterday, I started pulling weeds in the garden and was quickly reminded of how much I had neglected things at home.
It seems I will have to devote at least a day of the holiday to yard work.
I am still hoping that the trees damaged by the severe cold this winter might recover, so the pots remain occupied.
I hesitate to plant anything new, and even the leggy pansies are difficult to pull out.
In the end, simply weeding and tidying the ground may be enough.
There are also plans unique to a long holiday—visiting my mother, perhaps traveling to see my son who lives far away.
When I think about it, it may not be such a quiet break after all.
Still, more than anything, I look forward to spending time with Anne.
Yesterday, I tried putting into practice a few things I had learned at a retriever training session, and the change was greater than expected.
Not that Anne had changed—but rather, I realized how much consideration I had been lacking.
She had done nothing wrong.
With more time together like this, perhaps things will gradually improve.
So while my anticipation for the holiday keeps growing, today and tomorrow are still regular workdays.
I want to focus and clear the tasks that have been piling up.
Fortunately, a colleague who had been overseas for training has returned, and it seems we may finally move past the recent chaos.
There are still a few difficult cases to handle, but I intend to deal with them properly.
And then there is the administrative work—especially the announcements related to upcoming meetings.
After that, the holiday.
For now, these two days before it begins—
I will simply concentrate and do my best.
For now, just two days—focus, and carry through.
・・・
Vocabulary for Learners
- long holiday season 大型連休（日本特有のニュアンスを自然に表現）
- rush of travelers 旅行客のラッシュ、混雑の様子
- occupy space 場所を占有する（やや批判的ニュアンス）
- paid leave 年次有給休暇
- rehearsal for retirement 定年後生活の予行演習（自然で含みのある表現）
- leggy (plants) 徒長した（植物がひょろ長く伸びた状態）
- tidying the ground 整地する、軽く手入れする
- put into practice 実践する
- consideration 配慮、気遣い
- carry through やり抜く、最後までやる
