Spring has arrived - It came today bringing with it a bright sun, a warm breeze, a sky filled with blue and budding flowers and trees at every glance. It also brought me a special dose of homesickness. It reminded me of being back home on the Rez...the smell, the breeze, the river. I wanted to be home taking a walk, not here in Japan. I have to be honest I didn't really want to walk in this weather today it amplifies my homesickness. But Oliver's tummy is upset, so in fear of him throwing up in the house we went for a walk.
Along our normal path Oliver and I had the pleasure of meeting the sweetest 90 year old man. Yes, I said N-I-N-E-T-Y! When we came upon him I did my usual head nod and smiled, sometimes I'll say, "Konnichiwa" and sometimes I don't. We've never seen him before so I chose to do the first and he spoke to me instead. Unfortunately, I can only understand a few catch phrases and I didn't understand him and answered with Gomenisai, ni hongo wakaru nai (I'm sorry, but I don't speak Japanese). He then asked if I spoke English and when I answered, "Yes", to my surprise he said in perfect English, "Where are you from?" This opened up a completely unexpected conversation.
Once our formalities were done, we walked along the river bank for two miles. He was a little hard of hearing, and we walked a little slow but during this walk I learned that he had spent one year in Montgomery, Alabama attending the Air College learning about a new aircraft that McDonnell-Douglas was building, the Jet Engine! He was chosen by his company to learn about the new plane and how to fly it. I learned that it took him over a week to get America. One day for each stop - Tokyo to Wake Island, Wake Island to Hawaii, Hawaii to San Francisco. He then traveled by train from San Francisco to Montgomery, which took 3 nights and 4 days. PHEW. I'm tired of just thinking about it!
I also learned that he has four children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. He has a granddaughter that just married an Australian and is to meet him in a few days. He was very happy that he could practice his English on me. I also learned that he is just visiting for a few days, but is looking for an apartment or home close to his son, whom he is visiting. Our walk only lasted about 45 minutes, but I wished it were longer, he had to return to his son's house. His daughter-in-law was coming to make lunch, then he was going to catch a train to Tachikawa for a dental appointment. Did I mention he was 90?!! Yes, he was traveling by himself.
I never did catch his name, but that's alright because what I learned is that even though homesickness has a way of creeping up on you, push through it and find the positive. I was able to feel past this, enjoy the beauty of today, this sweet man helped me recognize that when I'm ninety, I want to walk two miles on my own with a sound mind! So, "Thank You" kind stranger for sharing your walk with me on this beautiful Spring day.
