Experience in Round

This blog has come full circle! As I look back at some of the amazing things we have done while living in Japan I realize I did not do any justice to our stay here by keeping my blog up!

I actually enjoy looking back to what we have been up to, how things were going, or how I was feeling about certain things going on in our lives (although I have a hard time sharing personal feelings, I am thinking I will try to get better at this...maybe). I guess this is the whole purpose of keeping a "log" of sorts. Fascinating.

We will be headed to Seattle Thursday, cat in tow, and plan on meeting up with my Cousin whom I have not seen in many, many years. Mainly due to reasons that we were not privy to as children - we just witnessed the final outcome of loss of knowing each other grow-up. I am excited about getting to meet her and her family!

Then it is off to "The Lou"! It is going to be a whirlwind and somewhere in the middle we need to buy a car - transportation is a good thing. Currently I am feeling a bit lost without transportation or communication devices. We may have to communicate via Morris code or smoke signals until we can get everything lined up (be on the lookout!) Who would have ever imagined even 17 years ago that manipulating throughout your day would be a task without a cell phone. Can you say SPOILED?

I am so afraid I am going to "rush" the summer in a hurry to get settled in to our new house! I don't want to be anticipating everything and not enjoy the "moment" that we are in. Before I know it Steve will be back to work and the kids will be in school leaving me wondering where all of our time together went. So...I really plan on taking it day by day and not rush having all the "normal" things in life that your mind and body are so use to having such as: Your own bed, shower, car and home! Wish me luck...

A few of my favorite things...

So today while sifting and sorting through junk, clothes, linens, the kitchen and many other nooks and crannies of this very small military house that we call a home I could not help but to think of all of the things I am excited to have again once we arrive back to the states:

- On-time deliveries without a "gomenasai".
- Lettuce that stays fresh longer than 3 days.
- The ability to snap a pic with my cell phone and send to someone with ease.
- A chance to know what the hell is going on by reading a billboard.
- Driving faster than 60 MPH without the fear of getting a 200.00 ticket.
- Reasonably priced produce and fruits.
- Not feeling like I must talk louder and slower in order to have someone understand me.
- Being able to be at a bar later than 2AM if we decide that is where we want to be.
- Not being able to explain what I need over the phone to a local.
- Natural disasters that remind you that you are living on a tiny little island in the middle of the Pacific.
- The mold that grows on EVERYTHING in my house.
...and so much more

BUT there is so much we will miss as well!
- Okinawa Soba
- Amazingly beautiful beaches
- Perfect summer weather
- Flip-flops 365 days a year
- The 6:00 PM Japanese loudspeaker announcement reminding all the boys and girls to go home and be good for their parents
- The distant sounds of the Okinawa Taiko Drummers practicing
- The odd, random things you see only in Okinawa
- 100 yen sushi-go-rounds
- The dragon when I don't feel like cooking
- Space A Travel with CAT 2 priority
- My son hunting for Okinawan large beetles and geckos
- The safety net of a Japanese community that allows my children to not witness the reality of "the real world".

...and again, so much more.

Time to back to sorting and sifting!