Old & New, In & Out, Up & Down

I have a digital picture frame in my office that I received as a gift from a friend. I change the image each day and reflect upon the thoughts I had at the time I took each picture.

Today's picture:

I was riding in my friend's black Mercedes coupe along the hairpin mountain roads of Nagano Prefecture, somewhere in the wilderness, in the direction of Karuizawa. It was J-pop, smooth leather and chilled green tea within; ragged storms, sheeting rain, and ominous looming peaks without - fading in and out of sight through the mist. I thought idly about the feudal days of Japan, imagined warriors on horseback traversing the fern-carpeted, ancient forests... And the contrast between "now" and "then," as well as "me" and "them" hit me like a punch in the stomach. I glanced at my friend and felt so alien, and yet so connected through my appreciation of our vast differences... And similarities.