Mizuki and Misaki: A Most Amazing Surprise

Joji, Me, Mizuki, Riki, Misaki, Gershwin, Emiko

In 2001 (long before my days of blogging), I reached a level of health that allowed Jeannine and I to live in an apartment about a mile from my house. (I had LOTS of help.) During that special year, we lived next door to a Japanese family with two young girls, Mizuki and Misaki, who were in the States while their dad worked at a Japanese company in town.

Since I was home all day, I saw the girls A LOT. We sat on the front stoop of the townhouse talking, we pet and groomed my Wheaten Terrier named Winnie, we went for little walks, we played with sidewalk chalk, we gathered stuffed animals on the sofa and snuggled together to watch the movie Flubber. Every day after school, I'd watch for Misaki's little head peeking in my living room window to see if I could come outside for a visit. 

When it was time for the family to move back to Japan, we were all heartbroken. Misaki, who knew little other than living in America, told her mother that she was going to stay and live with Emily. I told Misaki that my cooking wasn't as good as her mom's, but she said she didn't care.

At the time of our friendship in the United States, the girls were seven and nine.

Teaching me about the gift they brought--a gorgeous handmade paper tray.

Lots of JOY being together

Riki, age 9, who wasn't even born yet when I knew them! Emiko and Joji.

On Sunday afternoon, we received a most joyous and amazing surprise! When the doorbell rang, Mom opened the door to find a Japanese family standing there. Mizuki stepped in front to say: I'm Mizuki and we used to live next door to Emily! Mom hurried to wake me up from my nap.

What a surprise! We had no idea they were coming back for a visit. We have kept in touch some over the years via snail mail, but I have missed these girls deeply. I have always dreamed that we would see each other again.

Mizuki is now 21. Misaki is 19.

When we were in the townhouse, we spent a lot of time with my dog Winnie, who the girls loved. It turns out that now, Misaki is training to be a groomer! I wonder if she was influenced by my sweet Winnie? The girls loved meeting Gershwin and Tovah Rose.

Emiko and Joji

Riki and Emiko

We only had about thirty minutes to visit, but we made sure to give each other lots of hugs and take lots of pictures. Most of the pictures are on Joji's camera, so if I get those, I will post some of them. I had almost worn pajamas on Sunday, since I was resting all day--thankfully I wasn't in PJs when they arrived, but I was close to being in something similar. Oops!

Misaki,, me, Mizuki

Mizuki will be staying in town for a month and we are planning to get together for lunch, dinner or tea. She says she would like me to feed her some American food. What shall we feed her? :) 

Oh, how I love these girls! Oh, how I have missed them so! Oh, what a wonderful surprise to hug them again and see the whole family again.

Blessings,

Emily

Photos by Aunt Ellen

"Happy Birthday! I Love You Aunt Ellen!" --Gershwin

Thanks to one of those moments that Facebook acted as a source of connection, Ellen found my blog and we have become fast and close friends--grateful to find someone living with chronic illness right nearby. Somehow with the ups and downs of illness and the fact that neither one us of drives, we still don't manage to get to see each other that often. BUT, this summer we've seen one another in both July (for Ellen's birthday) and in August.  

Lord and Master, Asher

Ellen arrived on Tuesday with her brand spanking new fancy schmancy camera and snapped some pics of the pooches upon their arrival home from the groomer. Since they stay clean for about a nanosecond, I am grateful for these sweet, beautiful photos of my furbabies. There's nothing like a freshly groomed pooch. Yeah, I washed my hair too. :)

Me and Gershwin

Gershwin and Tovah Rose

Let's just say it takes a mini-village to get these two to sit next to each other, sit still and look at the camera. Mom and I made lots of crazy noises while Ellen snapped away.

Look How Much Bigger G Is!

Thank you so much for the pics of your fur-niece and nephews, Aunt Ellen!

Me and The Princess

Blessings,

Emily

15

Our Daffodils in the Spring

When the letter arrived in the mail announcing my 15 year reunion at Davidson, all I could do was cry. I thought: I've been sick for 15 years, it has been 15 years since graduation and I function at 15% of a healthy person. The number 15 was not a happy number for me. 

At the time, I was also in the midst of a major gastroparesis flare unlike anything I have ever experienced, which in turn had set off my ANS to the point that I was unable to even stand for five seconds without tachycardia and near fainting. It was a bad time, to say the least.

Friends started planning for the reunion. Facebook was full of Davidson reunion love. I watched as so many of those I've reconnected with planned their journey to a place that remains as one of the most formative experiences of my life. A place whose presence is tangible, knowable, and influential EVERY DAY of my life--because of the values I learned, the people I met, or the education I gained.

I grieved. I grieved the body that wouldn't allow me to go. I grieved the freedom of choice that comes with a healthy body. I grieved the passing of time. I grieved the last time I knew a healthy body. I grieved for the friends I wouldn't see, the friends I haven't seen in years, the babies I've never met, the weddings I've missed. 

Daffodils Always Remind me of Davidson

And then, I made a choice. A choice to celebrate 15 years since graduation in my own way. Instead of focusing on the big reunion at Davidson, I would have as many mini 15 year reunions as I could. 

Let me clarify that the reason I could even do something like this is because I have 1. a mom who is amazing and willing to have my friends visit, and 2. amazing friends who are willing to travel to see me. The people I've met at Davidson are lifelong treasures.

So, I've had several mini-reunions so far this year, and have a couple more to go! It's been the busiest summer EVER in in terms of company, but it's been worth every ounce of energy. 

What came from grief, sadness and loss was a beautiful series of connecting and re-connecting with my Davidson experience. The lesson I'm learning is that I need to grieve, that it is healthy to grieve, that it is appropriate to grieve the many losses that illness brings. What I have also learned is that after I've had my pity party, I can come up with new and different ways to celebrate life. 

I've also learned that I may never get better. In accepting this I've begun to allow friends to visit without trying to be a perfect hostess, making sure I take my naps, and allowing them to see me sick. For many years I did not want friends to come visit because I did not want them to 'see me sick' and wanted to 'wait until I felt better'. I felt that it was unfair to my friends to travel so far to see me when I am only awake and able to visit a short time each day. There's nothing like staring 15 years post-college and 15 years of illness in the face to make one say: time is too precious, life is too short, those who are true friends will and do love me sick or not. I'm still learning to accept this type of love from friends.

I can't wait to share the photos from the visits! :)

Blessings,

Emily

Happy 12th Birthday Mr. Fuzz!

I can't believe our sweet Asher is 12 years old. 

We all celebrated his birthday with some yummy biscuits. Okay, I didn't taste them, but three out of three testers agreed that they were delicious.

We opened presents. Asher got a stuffed alligator, and lots of 'help' from his siblings with the opening. Gershwin also stole the alligator from Asher almost immediately. It's tough being the old man of the house. I'm not sure how Asher feels about everything being a 'group effort' now.

As soon as Asher sees a gift bag, tissue paper or an unopened box, he thinks it is for him. He gets so excited about packages. I love that he hasn't lost this joyful part of him. He has taught Tovah Rose how to open presents, but Gershwin hasn't quite caught on.

As you can see, he enjoyed opening everything, and is happy with his gift of a new antler bone (which I think was also stolen away from him at some point?).

And of course, Asher got lot of birthday pats.

And kisses.

And a break from the puppies to lie in the cool evening grass--one of his very favorite things in the whole world.

Asher still has more good days than bad days, enjoys his treats, initiates play with Gershwin (Tovah Rose stays away from the from boys at play!), snuggles with me in bed every night and every morning when I wake up, and loves to go for rides. He's pretty limpy and gimpy, though, so we are doing our best to give him the best quality of life possible in his golden years.

We love you Mr. Fuzz.

Blessings,

Emily