あけましておめでとう！

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!!!

first, i wanted to share with you these wonderful photos of a loving relationship between a woman named Misa and her cat called Fukumaru.  the photos were taken by Misa's granddaughter Miyoko Ihara. 

many of you might have already seen some of these before, or even own the book!  but it was funny because the last time i was in Tokyo, i was just browsing through the bookstores and actually saw this book on the shelf!  i was "this close" to buying a copy for myself, but ended up passing the chance... and then not too long ago my friend Nara, sent me an email with a link to these photos and it made me smile so much :-D

i wish both of them live many more years to come with good health and many laughs together... as i wish the same for all of YOU this new 2013 year!!  you can see many more photos here and here. 

...and one more thing i wanted to share with you were these very kind and bright words left by a person named Neil Gaiman, who left a comment on my last post.  i could not have said a more beautiful new years greeting than the way he simply put it:

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

thank you Neil!  and i hope all of you had a happy new years and a wonderful 2013 ahead!  ♡♡♡