bernadette

a few years ago, my partner in crime, Chelsea, left japan to return to australia.

it pretty much marked the end of my drunken clubbing nights, kissing too many boys, and general running amok in tokyo (for better or worse, i still don't know!).  it also meant the end of meeting up after work to commiserate, gossip and destress over dinner and drinks, shopping on the weekends, and exploring tokyo together (definitely for worse). 

when she left, i inherited several items:

the infamous kerosene heater (exiled to the balcony)
a comfy reclining floor chair (in my bedroom)
a super soft and big area rug (in my bedroom, covering some tatami)
a spatula (how i lived without one, i do not know)
and...
bernadette.

(may 2008)

actually, Chelsea gave me a whole collection of potted plants that she got at a farewell party.  (note to anyone attending a farewell party: don't give the farewell-ee a potted plant, i mean come on, think about it.)

i was actually really excited to get some plants to liven up my balcony.  i asked Chelsea to name them, but she could only come up with bernadette, so the rest remained unnamed.

by the fall, i had worked my brown thumb magic and bernadette was the only one still hanging on.   or maybe they really just wanted names.  either way, i just left nature take its course and, ashamedly, gave up on doing anything.

fast forward to two years later:

that bernadette is one tough cookie, considering i haven't watered her in...coughcough...over a year?

and miraculously, she's blooming again:

i don't know what kind of plant she is (anyone know?) but after taking these photos today, she's my reason to finally get my sad and far too long unattended balcony cleaned up and looking nice again.  and hopefully i can do it before the sit-on-the-balcony-with-a-drink-and-a-book weather turns into rain or unbearable heat.

i took a before picture today, but am too embarrassed to put it up without an amazing after photo to make people forget how bad it looked.