Melissa keeps teasing me for taking so many pictures of the flowers, but I don't care. The Cherry blossoms in Japan are, in my opinion, one of the wonders of the world, and as the japanese duely note every time I talk at length with any of them about the tree, they make a great metaphor for humanity. They are brilliant, beautiful, and fleeting. The whole country anticipates the 'cherry blossom front' that moves up the country from Okinawa in late March to Hokkaido in Late April and May. Each night on the news there is an official report of the progress of the blossoms, and there are even 'blossom' forecasts for different regions of the country. The Japanese look forward to them like americans look forward to Christmas lights, but with more zeal. When the blossoms do come out, so do the people, along with their bento lunches, their blue picnic tarps, and their beer. At the Park we Stopped at With Callan, there were about two dozen people picnicing under the Cherry blossoms, and their laughter made a pleasant backdrop for our own picnic.