My mother-in-law regularly pops up at our home.

And when she does,

she usually comes to drop something off.

Sweet potatoes.

Her surplus of home-grown tomatoes and cucumbers.

Or other fresh vegetables and fruit.

Not home-grown by her,

but often given to her by neighbours who also grow vegetables and fruit on their own plots of land.

I cannot thank her enough every time she brings something along.

Sometimes when we are not home,

she simply leaves a bag of vegetables and fruit at our front door.

No note.

Later we call her and ask if it was from her.

Nine out of ten times,

it was.

My wife and I are very grateful for her generosity.

I can’t say whether our situation is an exception or simply part of rural life in Japan.