Food for thought - Acronyms

If people really knew the meaning of the acronym, SNAFU, they would not be using it so frequently.

Buth then, perhaps not!

Japanese Gothic Tales

Living in Wakayama, we were often reminded of the presence of Koya San, a mountain in the region. In Izumi Kyoka's book, Japanese Gothic Tales, one of the short stories is "The Holy Man of Mount Koya" provides a new view of this prefectual landmark. Indeed, as the long short story progresses, strange events occur. The monk is a traveler who is rained upon by blood sucking leeches. Once he gets out of the forest, he finds a secluded mountain cottage. He finds an odd looking person peering at him.

"His mouth hung open, his upper lip curled back. His nose was flat and his forehead bulged. His hair had grown out and was long like a cockscomb in front, flipped all the way back to his collar and covering his ears. Was he a mute? An idiot? A young man about to turn into a frog? I was surprized by what I saw."

This is among the many bizarre sights the monk experiences. It is not until he meets a fellow traveler, an old man walking along the path does the holy man learn how he escaped a hideous fate. An odd story with undertones of personal feelings that I had heard a similar story from a different cultural perspective.

One of many short stories with surprising twists...Perfect for the bedtime reader whose eyes fall shut within 15 minutes of jumping into bed.

May Aphorism

The worst soliture is to be destitute of sincere friendship.

Francis Bacon