Junior's Assist

Junior, thank you for your assist. Fay and I wouldn't have found each other had you not stepped in. Perhaps you'd consider it the normal friendly thing to do, but man, I thank you, because I don't want to think about how life would be had I not met Fay that night. It was your prodding that turned my head her way. And now, I am an eternally grateful man.
Whoever took that photo really captured the moment, a perfect moment. It was during one of your talks of persuasion.
And Hony, you have a good friend in Junior. I'm sure you see that and that's why he's your friend. But he's a great guy to have around. Just wanted to also say that.
And hony, another thing... I love you so much!!

Two Beautiful Children

And yes, we're not alone. We have two beautiful children. Don't they look like brother's? I adore both of them. And actually, they are really quite alike in many ways--the sweetest things they do.
I remember looking at one of Kenji's photo's before I met him, and was thinking how much he looked like Deryk. They have similar emotions and ways of going about things. When he visited for 2 weeks they got along great.
Considering the tiny room we were in, they did wonderfully. I tell you, there were four of us in a room that a single would have a difficult time living in. If we could all get along in a room the size of mine for 3 weeks without arguments or friction, I'd say perhaps we could stand to live a lifetime.
It reminds me of a time back in 2007. Our house in Hiroshima was the size of a matchbox. Maybe if the people living there was cut down to half, the world would consider our house the biggest in the block. But when there were people sleeping in closets and setting up camp in the hallway we knew that it was about time to move.
Amidst the hustle and bustle was my request to return home. How I felt the love of my family when they received me with open arms despite their circumstance. If their welcome wasn't so pure and honest, I would have certainly walked the other way.
Upon my making the decision, Deryk and I had no choice but to room with my parents and brother in sister. This was better than the closet for sure, but in the midsummer heat, it was but the grace of God that saw us through. Ha! Well, it was worth it.

Love is Elusive

"Love is elusive when you search for it... don't I know
Happiness sometimes... just creeps in..."

All you music lovers, you probably know where I got that line from.

Just a Theory

I used to have a theory that someone who makes a blog is someone who has a lot of time. But I concluded that though there are perhaps a majority in that catagory, there's another catagory of who I consider "deep thinkers" who are busy people but who burn the midnight candle constructing their blogs--for different reasons I'm sure. But maybe a big reason is because a deep thinker often needs to express his/her thoughts in some form, whether it be in song, in dance, in music, or in writing, else they'd soon suffer from brain overload.

Our love story

Written: December 20th
Brandon had become accustomed to, or perhaps numb to, disappointments and setbacks. His life had gone all too well for a while during his early years. One day the bubble of his comfort and security popped, and his life ripped downhill into a swamp of inescapable problems and depression. Much like the sudden and unfortunate bankruptcy of a successful business, this unexpected turn of events left his life in pieces.
For many months he struggled to gather the scattered pieces of his torn and broken life and to make sense of all the confusion he felt. Finally in one fell swoop the God of the universe--He who had been watching him since birth--through his son came to earth, on behalf of this little one's plea for help, and rescued him from the hands of adversity.
Speaking face-to-face with the one he had failed to recognize as Master and Savior, Brandon knelt before Him in surrender and ashamed humility and submitted his life to Him. The past and all its memories were as the last pages of a book that was closed and sealed. A new book was being opened, and upon its unused pages a new life was being written. From this day he would never be the same.
Weeks and months past... and a year, and then more. Brandon lived his new life with a passion. he saw the world in a different light. No longer was he troubled, confused, and afraid. He knew that he was cupped in competent hands. He knew that he once again believed in a God who cared for a protected Him.

Then it happened. It was on the dance floor--October 16' 2008. There was music, dancing, and laughing--lots of laughing. Brandon was enjoying it every bit. He downed a couple swigs, did a few jigs, and threw all care to the wind. He knew not what this night would bring, but he was determined to let it take control; to see where it'd lead.
Slouching lazily against the bar counter, sipping his cocktail nonchalantly, eyeing the night's friendly crowd just above the rim of his glass, Brandon's eyes caught onto one dancing tango, pretending as if guided by the steps with someone, when actually there was no one. Quickly he put his glass aside, and without asking, took her hand in his, and strode briskly to the center of the dance floor. Within seconds Brandon and Sherry had allowed the music to transport them into a world of no time or care.
One dance, two glasses of champagne, and a toast to love, Brandon and Sherry met each other for the first time. For the first time they saw deeply into each other's souls, their hearts warmed the other, and Brandon felt as if he had met his soul-mate. Just minutes later he surprised even himself by asking her if he could be led into the privacy of her bedroom. Surely he must have had too much to drink.

* * *
The above is part of a two-pager that I had written for Fay as one of her 2008 Christmas presents. The story unfolds in a beautiful summer house in far-out Karuizawa--one of Japan's renown summer resort districts. I was at a 3 day celebration meeting of the PMA, and she came as staff. The events of the last night of the meeting is what I depicted.