こんなことがあった。朝、てんでバラバラに人が起きてきて、個々のペースで身支度をととのえながら、徐々に朝食のテーブルに集まり出す。誰かが不揃いのいちごとルバーブがあるからジャムを作ると突然言い出し、それを待っている間、誰かがふった何気ないひとことに、誰かが食いつき、思いのほか会話が盛り上がる。アツアツのジャムを持ってきた誰かが「なんの話？」とそこに加わり、さらに話はみるみる熱く、深くなる。

気づけばカップは空っぽで、もう一杯コーヒーを飲もうかとなり、誰かがコーヒーを淹れ、誰かは残ったパンをかじりながら、いつまでも話は終わらず、いつしか昼になっていた。

その経験がやたら楽しく、あれは一体何だったんだろうねとなり、きっと森の家にいたからだという結論に至った。ぽつねんと、取り残されたような静寂の中、何かに急き立てられることのないまま、時間感覚は麻痺し、逆に頭は冴える。また、あのようなマジカルな時間を味わってみたい、と誰もが思った。

Something interesting happened one morning. Everyone in the house got up at random times, got ready at varying speeds, and gradually made their way to the breakfast table. Out of the blue, someone said she would make jam because she found some strawberries of various sizes and rhubarb. While waiting for her, someone casually started a conversation, and another got interested, then the conversation became interesting all of a sudden. When the jam maker returned with some freshly made hot jam, she asked, “What are you talking about?” She then joined the chat, instantly making the conversation spicier and deeper.

Suddenly, we realized all the coffee cups were empty. Someone started making coffee for a refill. Someone took a bite from the leftover bread. The conversation went on, and it was noon before we knew it.

It was such a fun experience, and we wondered why it was so fun. We concluded that it was because our house was in the forest. The house stood alone in the forest in an isolated quietness. There was nothing to rush us, and we lost track of time. This environment made us intellectually aware. Afterward, everyone wanted to have that magical experience again.