Gray Skies

The grey skies hanging above us seems to cast a reflected sullenness upon city life. Desperate birds race across a dismal stretch seeking shelter from the oncoming deluge. It is a constant drizzle that dampens spirits and deters us from venturing outside unnecessarily. We catch our breath at the momentary let-up since the last and before the next inundation where the rain will gather speed and fall in torrents. I sit by my window drinking my hot tea as I look outside with a dry and detached reservation at the few brave souls who hurry by with the wind trying to tear their umbrellas from their grasp. The road to the stores seem almost deserted by pedestrians but the cars splash on relentlessly with wipers frantic in clearing the misty view. In the other direction, the road to the train station looks smudged and slippery like industrial spillage and yet attractively it beckons those wet creatures inside with the promise of shelter, sanctuary and steamy coffee shops displaying hot mocha and bowls of warming noodles.
The news on TV as I turn to regard it is also rainy and grey. In Tokyo we are promised sunny skies next week but in the South west of Japan, where heavy rains have untamed rivers, caused floods and landslides and has been responsible for a small but no less tragic loss of life, hear that next week more rain will come to fall.

Masazumi is the latest of the young models to grace Hitomi's studio for a photo session in a dangerous way. She is our girl with the dragon tattoo. It is wonderful to watch them work together, the models eager with grace and poise and Hitomi with her direction, light and angles. I on the other hand have been chatting with Yoshi regarding my future on the agency books. I knew from the outset that my age was always going to make finding work difficult but the agency has always managed to find some work for me in the past. In November my three year contract with them is done. This does not mean I'm finished with them, I'll be thirty two then and Yoshi says that they have some contracts for the older model if I'm interested. Perhaps I can be like Masako Mizutani, our model of eternal youth and then one day I could even be as Daphne Selfe.
Age is a limiting factor true but it is no barrier.

I have just completed some wonderful work with Sheary Bijou and also with a design company and I happily told her this but somehow it seemed as if I was just defending myself to sway the inevitable. I'll just keep going for as long as people want me I guess although this means as long as I'm comfortable with what work is offered. I am certainly not going to embarrass myself and hold on to dreams beyond reason.
I know I've mentioned this modelling and age issue even before I ventured into the world of promotions but at that time it was a detached point of view. Now I'm living it in the moment.
My current fantasy (an idle dream) is perhaps to have a hair and beauty salon.