Back "Home" Again in Ichikawa

Sunday Afternoon,Windy with Rain Showers, 70 degrees.

For a long time I thought I would just never make it back here. It was easier to think that way when I returned to the US in 2012.  But here I am back in Ichkawa at the OMF Guest Home seeing old friends and seeing all the new stuff that has cropped up while I've been away.

Jet Lag was a bear this time.  I got next to no sleep in the 24 hours before the flight and closer to none on the flight, besides that I never seem to get younger. My first day back I nearly injured a couple people by just being unreasonable.  I'm somewhat better than that now, but still waking up at 5 am everyday.

Today I was back in my old seat in the Language Impaired section at church. Remembering a lot and realizing I have forgotten even more.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with some friends in the next weeks. Visiting some new places and revisiting some old haunts.

So if you're looking for me...

News!

I have tickets to fly to Tokyo in April! I'll be volunteering as Guest Home Manager at the OMF Japan HQ Guest Home to fill the gap between the couple there now and the couple lined up to serve next.

I am excited. It's an opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues as well as to be useful, even in my retirement.

I'd appreciate prayer for strength and safety as well as assistance with living expenses. If any of you would like more information you can let me know: in the comments below, in a personal message on Facebook or an email or phone call.

I'll also be attempting to move house before I go.  A friend is moving soon, vacating their current condo. I've been offered the chance to rent it from them.  Definitely a move up and a quieter neighborhood. Lots to do.

Anniversaries

July through November is our family's Birthday sector.  It seems most families have some part of the year when most of these celebrations cluster. I am notorious for forgetting birthdays and anniversaries of those I love.  I'm not proud of it, but somehow I rarely have been able to come up with appropriate greetings on any sort of regular basis.  I have been trying to turn over a new leaf (yet again) to say something, send an email or mail a card even if it is a few days or weeks late. A sad state of affairs and I'm sure it says something about my personality or childhood or something.

This week marks some special remembrances for me. I started actively thinking about it when I received an email from the couple who now run the Ichikawa Guest Home. They've been there a year, which means I've been gone for a similar amount of time.

I've been to Japan four times and have come home from each of those trips in the late summer/early autumn. The last trip ended last year on September 25 when I flew from Tokyo to London.

I've said many times before, this last transition to the US from Japan was a difficult. But, you know what? I'm starting to get over it. I no longer am reduced to tears thinking of all that I left behind. I have started to embrace where I am now. Ready to think about moving forward, making decisions I couldn't come to grips with as yet.

A year ago today, I was being farewell-ed by my friends at church, watching the end of the Sumo tournament and being taken to a really nice restaurant for dinner.