A promised outing had been cancelled at the planned time of departure. I did not know how far up I nThe autumn leaves were summer's final fireworks. Even this last spectacle was finally picked up by the wind and swept from sight. The cultural familiarity I had enjoyed, without realizing it, in my home country was also a distant season. However, the over-familiarity was also gone.
English words become as familiar as breathing and just as ignored.
In Japanese my friend listens intently to my words. Those words were a new language for me and are new discoveries about me for her. Even though my language skill has never been worse, I have never felt more clearly heard. I listen intently to her words. I take nothing for granted.