When Mom was here I bought myself a Daruma doll at the shrine in Asakusa. Daruma dolls are armless and legless, hollow and round wish dolls that you buy eyeless. You paint one eye in black ink as you make your wish. You then paint the other one in when your wish comes true or the year ends. I’m not telling what my wish was, but it did not come true. The year ended. Once both eyes are filled in you are then apparently supposed to take the doll back to the shrine to have it burned by the priests. This is because you are not supposed to throw anything away that has eyes. It is also done for purification reasons. It tells that kami (or gods) that you have not given up on the wish, but are on another path to make it come true. I like that sentiment a lot.

I doubt I’ll take it back to the shrine, although I would like to get another one and make another wish. I am obviously on a different path to make the previous wish to come true, so new wishes are always good. I have a feeling that this will instead be burnt on the grill in the backyard. Since BBQ’s happen in this house about once a week, it’ll go soon. Have no fear.