Two of us had been on Aozasa Mountain just ten days before, but we had had to come back—it had been the most beautiful day ever and we were hoping for another one exactly like it—and we wanted as many of our friends as possible to experience it with us. In the end, seven of us went—a two-Aqua affair.

The sky turned out to be a bit more hazy than before, so as far as views went it was perhaps not another off-the-charts FIFTEEN . . . but a mere perfect TEN.

We’ll take that any day.

But every hike brings new and different delights. The new fallen and deep snow on the last bit of the trail heading down to the Jizo Pass was particularly joyful, with all sorts of slipping and sliding and bum bouncing occurring (no fears, nothing dangerous, no injuries).

And last time, the snow mushrooms had yet to sprout up here and there on thick branches and fallen logs . . .

and we had no opportunity to see snow animals out on parade.

Of course, none of these “new” sights surprised me—I’m quite aware of what Mother Nature is capable of—but I do have to admit that I did a double-take when I saw . . .

. . . that Mother Nature had used the snow to produce a cute little winter cap for us to marvel at. Actually, I was at the end of the hiking line right then. I suppose I was the only one to see it. Wait a minute, I’m remembering it now:  I had just whacked my head on a branch (permanent damage?), and suddenly my ears had gone cold, and . . .

Oh, never mind!

When you’re walking through the cedars like this, and the snow is soft and powdery and easygoing, and the sun’s sneaking over the top of the ridge and shining down on you, it’s easy to start daydreaming and musing about all sorts of things.

And I certainly did. And so did at least one other of us. Because suddenly I was hearing this question tickling my ears: WHAT WERE WE BORN FOR?

What were we born for? What kind of question was that?

What were we born for?

Why were we born?

Fortunately, Tammy Tam was on hand to help me pull together an answer.

 And you’ll forgive me for providing you, here, with the answer that was, later in the week, “recollected in tranquility” and duly recorded for prosperity.

(Give me and Tammy Tam a break—it was the best answer we could come up with. We gave it the best thunk we could.)

But I must warn you that listening to our answer may grate on your ears, so take comfort in knowing that you can skip the sound file, just look at the pictures, and pretty much get the same answer.

And here I’d just like to say that . . . we’re so happy to have Tammy Tam with us at Persimmon Dreams Recording Studio. This time, not only does she provide a sweet vocal, but she also plays a mean Scracalac (no introduction to that instrument necessary, I’m sure), as well as putting in a fine performance on the—in Japanese—百貴銭鈴, pronounced HYAKKI-SEN-RIN, and roughly translating as the “One-Hundred-Precious-Coin Bells.”

Anyway, here’s hoping you’ll join us on the mountain some day. . . . If it’s your cup of tea.

Lyrics below. With the pictures.

Were you born to wear rings / on your fingers like kings

And to pull all the peasants / along on a string?

Were you born to travel / in crowded cabooses

To never know wrong / to have good excuses?

Were you born to collect tolls / or to fix all the holes

Or to sit at the table and butter the rolls?

Tell me, oh, oh, oh, what were you born for?

Tell me, why, why, why, why you were born?

Tell me, oh, oh, oh, what were you born for?

Tell me, why, oh why – were you born?

 

Were you born to learn / to wait for your turn

To see all the sorrow / and show some concern?

Were you born to be tense / maybe sit on a fence

Or to work for a penny, a yen, or a pence?

Were you born to be one / with the stars and the sun

To romp with a cloud / just looking for fun?

Were you born to hold power / stay long in the shower

To live at the tip of the top of the tower?

Were you born to sew stitches / to overcome hitches

To wear chains on your legs / and to dig in the ditches?

Were you born to build bridges / to live along ridges,

Or to whack kids with a belt / on the back of their britches?

Were you born to have headaches / heartburn and such

To lose your eyesight / and walk with a crutch?

Were you born to chop wood / or to build neighborhoods

Or to do what you should / when you knew that you could?

Were you born to prevail / maybe chase the grail

Or to save the world / with a milkshake of kale?

Were you born to fix arteries / all clogged up with fat

Or to stand up a crowd / with the crack of your bat?

Were you born to cook quiche / become nouveau riche

To wander around without finding your niche?

Were you born to divorce, to feel remorse,

To laugh and to cry but to seek no recourse.

Were to born to take dares / to pull out grey hairs

Or to eat all the peaches and leave all the pears?

Well, why I was born I can’t really say

But I hope to find peace by the end of the day

So I walk in the hills and I sing and I sigh.

And I glide through the snow / and I keep on the go

And I laugh and I laugh / at how little I know

And I’m wimpy and weak / and my locks have been shorn

But I just have to say / I don’t know why you were born

But if a walk in the woods / is your cup of tea

Then I’m happy to have you / come along with me

Yes I’m happy to have you / come along with me

I’m so happy to have you / come along with me.