Blue Gem,Blue Beam_02
（続き）
The time spent waiting for summer dusk. This slide retains that languid atmosphere.
I told her I wanted to photograph a standing pose. That was my only request. After that, as usual, she did as she pleased. I was merely an observer, watching her movements and taking photographs. Bare feet. What music was playing in her head?
While shooting, I thought about Karasumi(or Dried mullet roe) I'd eaten that day. It came in individual pouches, allowing each slice to be eaten by hand. A set of five. I probably ate about two slices. The first taste of karasumi after so long brought back a wave of nostalgia, confirming that this was indeed how it tasted. In the past, it would have been paired with sake, but lately, sake has been a bit much for me. This time, it was Canned Shiro-kaku Whisky with Water. Two pieces of karasumi,and some tacoyaki sauce-flavoured rusk I finished that small can.
It had been a while since I'd had Canned Shiro-kaku Whisky with Water too. After work, at the standing bar, I seem to recall drinking nothing but that near retirement.
After my father's death, when I visited the assisted living apartment where my mother had been residing, she had bought that Canned Shiro-kaku Whisky with Water for me. The accompaniment was always square baby cheese. After my mother passed away, when I went to sort her belongings, there were two cans of Shiro-kaku Whisky with Water in the fridge, and only three baby cheeses remained out of the four-pack. Along with the frozen carrots after boiling, my wife put the leftover cheese into the bin bag and placed the cans in the bag for me to take home. After that, for a long time, I couldn't bring myself to drink Canned Shiro-kaku Whisky with Water.……
Her barefoot, mysterious steps. I can't help but recall that summer song from nine years ago that is still my favourite to this day.
"You know..."
"I know..."
夏の夕暮れ待ちの時間。
このスライドには、その気怠い雰囲気が残っている。
座っていた人に、立ち姿を撮影したい旨、伝えた。私のリクエストは、それだけ。あとは、いつものとおり、この人の思うがまま。私は、彼女の動きをただ眺めて、撮影をする傍観者。裸足の足。どんな音楽が、彼女の頭の中に流れているのだろうか。
撮影しながら、私は、この日、口にしたカラスミのことを考えていた。一切れずつパウチされていて、手に持って食べることができた。５枚セット。私は、二切れほど食べただろうか。久しぶりのカラスミは、こんな味だったなという懐かしさが先に立った。以前なら日本酒のアテだが、私は、最近どうも日本酒がしんどくなっていて、この時は、缶入り白角水割り。カラスミ、二切れと、タコ焼きソース味のラスクで、その小さな缶を飲み干した。
白角水割りも久しぶりだった。仕事帰りの角打ちでは、退職間際は、そればかりを飲んでいた気がする。父の死後、母が暮らすようになった介護付き自立支援老人マンションへ行くと、母は私のために、その缶入りの水割りウィスキーを買っていてくれていた。アテは、いつも、四角いベビーチーズ。母の死後、遺品を片付けに行った際、冷蔵庫の中には、白角水割りの缶が二つあり、４個入りのベビーチーズは３個残っていた。茹でた後、冷凍保存していたニンジン類と一緒に、妻はチーズの残りをゴミ袋へ入れ、缶は持ち帰り用の袋に入れた。その後、長い間、私は白角水割りの缶を飲むことが出来なかった。……
裸足の彼女の、不思議なステップ。
９年前の、今でも一番好きな夏曲を、どうしても思い出してしまう。
"You know..."
"I know..."
Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/kei-suenobu.bsky.social/post/3lylrgwlxpc2n
The music used for the slides was
Lesfm, Platon
Slow Bloom
SoundCloud
