When I am 90...

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.