We still could not find our favourite tradition book hence, even with the morning rush, and you were already panicky because you’re about to be left behind, I decided to use last year’s photo and just your name in front of you.
Funny how you happened to wear the very same sweater as last year!
Godspeed, my baby.
This year’s first sunrise was so breathtakingly beautiful it fills one’s heart with so much hope and love for the future. I wasn’t able to capture how the sun made everything golden before it fully rose; but it will remain in my heart.
We got a bonus too, after Church. Unobstructed view of Mt Fuji. Marvellous.
For the last seven years, I have been participating in the annual joint celebration between my church and a neighbor Anglican Church. We call it the Nine Lessons and Carols, patterned after Kings College’s. This tradition in Yokohama has been going on since the 1970s. This year however, brought a challenge, as we couldn’t gather as usual. But our magnificent Choir director was undaunted.
She made guide piano recordings for each of the four voices, plus some solos, and emailed extensive instructions. The recordings started early September. We were supposed to record only roughly seven songs (including descant versions), but I didn’t imagine how difficult it would be, considering my late nights from work.
I was planning to record the last song (with descant, and yes, it’s Oh Come All Ye Faithful) during the long weekend in third week of November. However, after an out of town trip in which I sat beside the driver (hence I chatted ALL THE TIME), I lost my voice. Tried to record during the week that followed but I just couldn’t reach even the lowest soprano note.
On top of that, our choir director gave that Saturday as deadline. Tried again during that day but I just couldn’t. I asked for extension till Monday (goodluck with work overtime!) and choir director graciously allowed.
Come Monday, I almost gave up recording. But somehow, something inside me pushed me to “finish the race”. I still couldn’t sing the high descant part so I aborted that second recording. But I think the usual Soprano part, I did well.
Today, I received an email from our choir director asking me if she could use part of my recording as solo, to be used in our teaser recording. And I got the chills after hearing what she had put together.
I couldn’t believe how good it sounded. And to think I lost my voice. And to think I almost gave up. To think I almost said “no, I can’t with the last song”. I am glad I made the push.
A reminder for me to not give up.
It’s actually a perfect cap for me after my first client meeting, with my new Lead with whom I had to fight so he could recognise me. After the meeting, he told me I did an excellent job. I am glad I did not give up.
Ever since we bought our Christmas tree and its ornaments for our second Christmas on our new home back in 2015, we’ve pretty much used the same decors from then.
Thought of starting a tradition of buying something special and pretty every year.
For this year, we had these pretties.
A bold Elsa, with her water horse. Loving her stance.
This pretty, pretty star.
A blessed Christmas to one and all!
You told me how in your 生活 (livelihood) class you learned about allowances/小遣い. You’ve been wanting to have your wallet since then, as if having a wallet is a prerequisite to having an allowance. I gave you a wallet a couple of years back, but you were still too young to appreciate the value of keeping a wallet hence even after a “massive search”, it’s nowhere to be found now. (That was a Cath Kidston by the way. Since Cath in Japan has gone bankrupt in April owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, that would have made that purse very special indeed.)
But since I wanted to also get you started on managing your own money and saving, we bought you a new purse today.
To jumpstart your “money management”, I put inside your wallet a 1000 yen bill and a few coins and, later when I got it as a change, a 500-yen coin. You were so happy with the 1000yen gift you kept thanking me again and again for it, using the different Japanese words and expressions in saying thank you. I appreciate that you have a thankful heart.
So from now you’ll be managing your train fares, vending machine purchases, and snacks purchases with a 700 yen weekly allowance. I suggested ways for you to save (say, take the walk up the hill instead of using the elevator to save 52yen plus get some exercise) so that you can buy something you like. With permission from me. This prompted a sassy question:
Till when will I be asking your permission on what to buy? Till I get old?
Oh dear. That will be another day’s lesson.
And! Today, we also had your eyes checked because you’ve been squinting around for weeks now. Doctor confirmed you need some lens. Those beautiful eyes would have to be behind a frame from now.
You were giggling with the fact that you and your peers are not the youngest in the school, anymore. You were even more excited with the fact that your wish of being in 2年2組 came true (you were 1年1組 before).
I was actually late in picking you up; you were the remaining student in the schoolyard and two teachers were speaking with you, wondering why you’re staying put and where your mom is. I was still caught up in an online meeting and had to run out the house to meet you. But you were beaming and all excited so you easily forgave me. Good to meet your new home room teacher too.
My dear daughter, I haven’t wrote about this yet, but we are currently living in an uncertain time, one filled with fear and worry, as the world goes in lockdown and isolation, to fight the coronavirus. I have been working on remote for a week now and your Dad’s about to start remote work tomorrow. You’ve been requesting the parties we’re gonna have after this is over, planning the trips we’re gonna take. Oh, the places we’ll go. But for the mean time, I wish you well as you start your second year at grade school. Keep that lovely, beaming smile on your face.
