The Sun Was Shining On The Sea

A very pleasant sort of afternoon, indeed!
Our brave adventurer traveled with her companions back to Otsu with the intents to ride the famed Michigan Boat~ This is the very same vessel that Tori (the only other person staying for the summer besides the three companions from MSU) will be working on in a few weeks, so experiencing it was rather exciting.

Gazing out at Lake Biwa just feels right to our young adventurer. As if looking out at this lake is a window (or Looking Glass, if you will~) into her past self gazing at Lake Michigan. A feeling of completeness, of home. While she usually doesn't dwell on those memories, of a family laughing and living on the edge of an endless sea, she does appreciate the warmth they happen to glow with inside her when they happen across her consciousness...

So! The Purpose of the Michigan Boat is to give the "American Experience" to people on-board (along with hot dogs and hamburgers=nothing to eat, again...More on that at a later time). This was a pretty interesting goal to see accomplished from the U.S.Citizens' perspectives.

Look at that excited Que~

Once aboard the vessel, they were waved good-bye ("Itterasshai!")

And they were off! The view from the top was as good as they say... And this kept recycling through her head:

The salt on your skin
And the wind in your hair
And the waves as they ebb and they flow!

-Prince Eric in "Fathoms Below" from The Little Mermaid

An hour and a half flew by with the wind that tugged at the bow in her hair. Lazy rays warmed her as she stretched out her legs on the top deck of the ship and chatted away the afternoon with her friends

And, oh, how the Sun was Shining With All Its Might!

It was a nice change to just be still instead of always going somewhere. She was just taken along and didn't have to pursue anything....Just enjoying the day...

...and the company of friends...

...taking the time to Smell the Roses...

... or feed the birds...

...and experiencing the loveliness in a world that isn't all her own, but is shared by many.