Rick’s retirement was announced at Showa Shell and Shell today. Now, we wind up our time in Japan and prepare to move back to Texas. I am so grateful for him and for the many wonderful blessings that have come to our lives because of his work at Shell.
Category: News (Page 6 of 29)
I am always searching for a great hairdresser. The last 11 years have been interesting. I had some scary haircuts in London until I found Manuel’s on Blenheim Terrace. Carlos colored and Manuel cut. Carlos was brilliant! Singapore was interesting…my hairdresser would come out look at my hair and then go back in the office while his “girls” did the work. My first hairdresser in Tokyo liked giving me orange highlights and when my hair turned a greenish color I stopped going there. My next Tokyo hairdresser turned my whole head an orangish color. Finally, I found the salon I go to now.
I started going to the owner until last year when he was forbidden by the authorities to touch anyone’s hair. I did not know he wasn’t licensed in Japan. At first I was sympathetic and then I was just mad because I needed to find a new hairdresser. I decided to try a Japanese guy, Fabio, who was working in the same salon. It turns out that I like him better than the owner. I am grateful for someone who is great at cutting hair and it’s not orange or green either.
Since yesterday was the first day of spring here in Japan, it only made sense that it was a gorgeous, spring like, day here in Tokyo. Early today I was still cold on my bike ride, but when we went out around noon it had warmed up a bit, the sun was shining and there were hardly any clouds in the sky. We started with lunch at our favorite tonkatsu place. Next we took the train to Kasairinkankoen. It’s also known as Tokyo Sea Life Park. We walked around for awhile.
Space Mountain
View of Tokyo Disney
I am grateful for wonderful Saturdays.
No, I am really not grateful for earthquakes. (Someday I should make a list of all the things I’m grateful I learned from the experience of being in Japan on March 11, 2011). Â We have been having quite a few little shakes in the last few weeks. I always sit still during them wondering if they are going to get stronger and thinking about what I should do if they do.
I am grateful for the USGS website that I can check after each quake to see what the magnitude was. I must have checked this site hundreds of times in the first four months after the Great Tohoku earthquake.
Keeping up my gratitude posts is hard. I always seem to be getting behind. My new goal is to post before noon everyday. I am grateful I can repent, catch up and try again.
I’ve always loved Peanuts
Today was a Kingwood reunion in Tokyo. Since I moved here in July of 2006 Jo Scoffield moved here and most recently Carolann Naugle arrived last May. On Saturday Dee Jones arrived to spend the week. Today we all got together and went to the Setagaya Borichi, the oldest and largest flea market held in Japan. It was a cold day, but we really had a good day and definitely made some memories. I am grateful for good friends.
Today I purchased another origami book to replace the last one I gave away. I have purchased a few since I have lived here hoping to learn to make some simple things so I can entertain my grandchildren, but I always end up giving them away. After I paid for the book and two packs of origami paper the shop owner gave me my change and handed me the tiniest origami box I have ever see. It is barely 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch and the amazing thing is that it has a separate top and bottom. I could actually place a tiny object in it. I am grateful for unexpected gifts and kindnesses that cause me to smile all day long.
Close up of the tiny box
The candy dish I folded with the tiny box
Bottom of the tiny box
Today I am leaving Houston and flying back home to Tokyo via Los Angeles. Today I am grateful for modern transportation that allows me to travel so far in such a short time. I am amazed at how often I have be able to cross the Pacific Ocean this year to visit my children and grandchildren.
I planned to get this first gratitude post up on the first, but I am still learning to use my iPad. I installed the WordPress app and now I am learning how it works. I would like to be able to post photos to my blog from my iPad.
I have many things that I am more grateful for than technology, but today I am grateful, for the ability to connect with those I love.