Hard to believe, but we’ve made it to the tenth month of the year 2025.

In Japan it appears to be a quiet month with only the 13th (Sports Day) as a holiday. From what I’ve read online, a few years back the Japanese instituted Happy Mondays (second Monday of each month) as a way to alleviate the stress of returning to work. Not all Happy Mondays are national holidays but people are encouraged to celebrate them in some way or another.

This month’s flower is a complete mystery to me. The nearest match I could find was the Japanese WIndflower about to bloom.

This flower is classified as an anemone (from the Greek for the tears of Aphrodite as she mourned the loss of Adonis). Depending on which language of flowers you ascribe you, they can bring luck or protect against evil, portend rain or symbolize anticipation. Like many beautiful things, you don’t want to eat the darn things!

For me this portends to be a busy month. Oct 2, 11, 18, 24, 26 and 27 are birthdays that need to be remembered and celebrated (and I’m sure I forgot someone!) Next week we attempt a trip to Kauai and with luck, the Napali Coast. So I better get busy. Have a great month everyone!