Friday, February 1, 2013

March 1, 1954 The Kindergarten Doll Festival, The Wedding Kimono, The Tokonoma and Bonnie is 34


Diary Entry:  March 1, 1954


"After breakfast, children surprised me with Damascene bracelet & book on flower arranging.


I made cookies for R&R.  E.S.S. came.


Kindergarten invited to Iwasaki home to see doll festival.  Frances Bray & children & Bob, Ann & I went to kindergarten & met Miss Ogata & other children.  Walked to large home in Nigawa.  Family has son in kindergarten & 2 yr. old girl.  First we went upstairs to tatami room where dolls were displayed.  Tokonoma had special picture & flower arrangement.


After looking at dolls & singing appropriate songs went down to huge playroom.  Windows on two sides.  Many toys and 2 slides.  Small table set with tiny dishes.  Boxes of special festival food--candy o'sushi, popped mochi & bean candy with ginger.  Food passed around, basket of animal cookies, candy umbrellas, cold black tea sweetened, regular o'sushi, mikans.  We ate with children & then while they played we went into parlor for Japanese tea.  House used by army.  Still has western living room. Tea in special bowls, very thick and bitter.  Eat a bit of bean cake first, drink tea in 3-1/2 sips with loud noise on last 1/2 sip.  Hold bowl in both hands & keep up to face while drinking all.  Then served cups of green tea with puffed mochi in it.  Tasted good, salty--almost clear soup flavor.  Cookies, seaweed crax & puffed mochi served.  Mr. I showed 2 strip films--Japanese fairy tale & Uncle Remus story.  Showed slides of family & family trips.  Back into parlor.  Family album came out.  Talk about wedding pictures.  Gets out wedding kimonos.


Puts one on Frances & one on me.  Complete with lovely obi.  Gets out camera.  We pose in front of dolls separately & out in garden together.  My children thanked hostess politely.  All had a wonderful time.

Bonnie on her 34th birthday


Bob saw Kotatsu & said, "Mommy there's a hole under here."

NOTE: A kotatsu is a type of low table under which a heater is placed for warmth while sitting at the table.  

2 comments:

  1. Another wonderful trip down Bonnie Lane. Such an honor that he let them put the Kimonos on!

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  2. Thank you, Margaret. You are so thoughtful to comment on the blog AND on the other post. Please never feel obligated, just enjoy the letters:-) I think it was a real treat for Mom to wear that family's special kimono.

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