Woke up this morning.  I felt happy to be home and secure about my short term future.  Long term?  I'm old and there is not much time left.  Unlike most of you, I don't believe there are such things as Heaven and Hell.   Purgatory, perhaps, as 15 Craigside , where I live, is perhaps one of the locations for this test period. So I asked Google AI about the nature of Purgatory. Purgatory is often described as a mix of intense suffering and profound hope.   Purification by Fire:   Traditionally, this is seen as a "cleansing fire" that burns away the stains of venial sins and the temporal punishment due to forgiven sins. The "Dentist" Analogy:   Some theologians, such as C.S. Lewis, compared it to a necessary but unpleasant visit to the dentist—a painful process that results in a "clean bill of health". The Pain of Loss:   Souls in Purgatory experience the "pain of loss," which is the temporary deprivation of the Beatific Vision (seeing God ...

During the past half a century I have been on at least a hundred major trips away from Hawaii for pleasure.  We yesterday returned from what surely is in the top ten of them all.  Just over two months, including two cruises.  How do I feel this morning?  Great, actually.  I don't feel jet lagged after eight hours of sleep last night.  That is quite unusual, for I avoid traveling west to east with a passion, and my around the world extravaganzas always go westward. This one  began on November 21 , before Thanksgiving, and ended yesterday, almost a month after Christmas. A few days in Yokohama, then we boarded the Diamond Princess for a 28-night cruise throughout much of Orient along the Pacific Ocean between Japan and Singapore. A month is now too long for me to be on a ship.  We almost went around the world on the Island Princess in 2021, but mercifully for me, as I think about it now, was cancelled by the company because of the ongoing COVID Pand...

 Woke up on our final Tokyo day to a resplendent Mount Fuji. Final breakfast in the Tokyo Westin Hotel. This hotel is a popular place for wedding parties. Took the Airport Limousine Bus to Narita International Airport.  Over Rainbow Bridge. You might wonder why that name when the bridge is all white colored.  At nights, lights change the color to rainbow hues, especially during the holiday seasons. Got to the ANA Business Class Lounge with almost 3 hours to enjoy the food and drinks there.  This is one of the best in the world. Sat so that we could see the 14th day of the Tokyo Sumo Tournament.  Tomorrow is the final day.  Started with curry rice, Suntory AO whiskey, beer and sake. Second course of ramen, chicken and lasagna. On the way out of the lounge, saw these turtles. Asked Google AI what they were. The "turtles" are ANA’s (All Nippon Airways)   "FLYING HONU" Airbus A380s , featuring special liveries of Hawaiian sea turtles (Honu) to symbolize go...