16/07/2027

 

My dear トトロ(Totoro),

 

I dream of your fantastical world where the tsukamori forest breathed life into the earth

And susuwatari soot gremlins sought darkness from the light

Oh, how I wish I could fly to you or take a magical ride on the Catbus to see you once again!

 

Just as I slept and snored on your soft, furry belly, you swept away my childhood fantasies

Soaring high above the rice paddy fields, rows of wild yellow chrysanthemums and pink cherry blossom trees

Your warm paws comforted me, and you kept me safe with your wide, wide eyes and big shiny teeth; your earth-shattering roar warded off our foes

How we laughed and played and sang and danced.

 

Now an adult, I type meaningless numbers and words into a computer every day

Sending them at speed to someone who does not care

Now all grown up, I pay taxes and bills to people who do not know me

Now older, I look in the mirror at my greying hair and sigh at the lines creasing my face.

 

I leave my windows open

And look up at the sky

Hoping that one day

Some day

I will see you in the stars!

 

Until then, I only have memories

Of that cool summer when I was a child

And you were my best friend.

 

Domo arigato gozaimasu!

 

アミーット(Ameet)