Dear friends:
A year of dragon is coming. Born in a dragon year multiple-of-twelve years ago, Billy will be called toshi otoko - a man of the year. It is a disappointment that no magazine is going to feature him.
Since we left Bay Area, the second Thanks Giving has passed without turkey and the second Christmas is approaching without a real Noble Fur. We are still missing what we cherished in CA. However, toward the end of the year, the excitement will help us to snap off the sentiment. The sprit of the traditional new year is what we can enjoy only in Japan. So is osechi – the special new year’s dish. Marie is planning to deliver homemade osechi to her family and friends.
Our adaptation to Nara is rather slow but so far it has been going successfully. Billy was assigned to a new department. His mission is to create an energy solution business for overseas markets - from the middle of nowhere in Nara. In his spare time, he commits himself to watching Japanese news and documentaries on a newly purchased digital TV and his wife has become a TV widow. Marie started teaching English at a university in Osaka as a part time contract teacher. Though the different attitudes of Japanese students don’t always make her happy, she feels fulfilled with her job. She also finds her pleasure in monthly taiko – Japanese dram – lessons and gardening. We enjoy hitting trails in nearby mountains together and suffer muscle pains individually afterwards.
In 2011, the series of unexpected incidents have happened to us in addition to the earthquake in Northern-East Japan. Marie’s father had a stroke in February and moved to a senior house. Hiroyuki broke his leg in March, and had a minor urological surgery in May. During the summer, Hiroyuki’s mother had a neck surgery for OPLL and stayed at hospital for four weeks. In autumn, Marie’s mother got her stomach polyps removed and Hiroyuki’s father restarted the treatment for malignant lymphoma, which we don’t have to worry so much since it is not life threading at all. Now then the winter has arrived and everything is settled. Our family are now having peaceful days.
It is fortunate to stay close to our aging parents who need supports. We cerebrated the birthdays of Hiroyuki’s father and Marie’s mother, who both reached seventy-seven years old, the age of pleasure - a joyful sign of longevity. The lesson we have learned this year is some sourness makes our life taste even sweeter. Also we know that you are going through your own sunny days and rainy days somewhere under the same sky. We are not alone, aren’t we?
A dragon is a magnificent powerful creature that human imagination has created. We believe the coming new year will protect us from evils and give us strength to solve problems.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Wish you and your family health and happiness.
Warm regards,
Hiroyuki & Marie Takai
