The alarm went off at 9:00am, but I didn’t get out of bed until 9:45am. What was so great about this garden that I had to wake up so early (well to me) on a Sunday morning to visit? Though the day is overcast, it does not hinder the tranquil beauty of the oriental garden. The ever-flowing water streams throughout the garden allowing me to listen to a sound I love. Nothing is more beautiful then the trickling of water, whether fast or slow, or the crashing of the waves of an ocean. Though we are miles away from an ocean, the beauty and serenity of this place brings fond memories. The occasional, but not so occasional pass of talking people distracts me from the dignity of the garden, but allows me to realize that I will not always be a part of this garden. While I am here, we are one. When I go, we will no longer be one, but we (both me and the garden) will have made an impact on one another. Being here listening to the wind rustle through the variety of vegetation, the flowing of the water, or the chirping of the typical Texas birds, I feel relaxed. I feel content with who I am and where I am going in my life. My thoughts only wonder to myself. I do not think about others. I think solely of how I am part of this great universe (a quite complicated thought). Would the beauty of this garden be lost without someone to look at it? Probably not, but we would not get any pleasure from it if it were hidden. The garden is beautiful. It allows you to feel its’ unity as you follow the path throughout. It could be viewed as the path of life. It is a wonderful place to be. It is a place of weddings, of family gatherings, of serene walks, and so much more. Mr. Taniguchi did a good job.