Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could live in a different place at a different point in time? That is exactly how I felt when revisiting Japan after almost ten years of being away. I would wish that I could go back ten years and start over and be able to stay in the country that has become my home even after so many years away. My wife says she can live without it and I guess I can also but I miss my father in law and my wifes two aunts. There are others that I wish I could see more often as well but if not then I guess it will not matter much anyway.

Our time spent in Japan was the best time I know that I have had in years. The activities that we had the prviledge to participate in while in Tokyo and in Nagoya made the entire trip worth all of the time and expense it took to get there. The time afterward was icing on the cake in my view



The real meaningful part of the trip for me was being able to see and spend time with my wifes family. while we were there I felt like I haven't felt on a long time. Like I was home. We got drunk like skunks almost everynight but with the exception of one massive hangover after I made the mistake of mixing sake with sho chu one night, we didn't get too far out of control.

We did a lot of running around while we were there because it has been ten years since we were there and we don't know when we can get back. We didn't get to do everything that we wanted to do because there was just not enough time. Even with the lack of time we spent the last couple of days lazing about the house soaking in the slended feelings of happiness that can only come from people you truly care about.



On the day that we were supposed to leave, we had called the cab to take us to the train station. Trust me when I say it was excruciatingly hard to get into that cab. Not only were we not wanting to leave but we knew what to expect when we got back. Anyway, we had the dogs and cats to worry about so there was no way we were going to miss our flight.

We made it to the train station in good time and also to Narita Airport. While there we ate lunch at a little resteraunt inside the terminal. I had what was probably the best soba noodle I have ever had in my life. They were absolutely out of this world. We also killed quite a bit of time looking for reading materials for the plane ride home. I found this really interesting book about a man named Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was one of the most famous if not the most famous Shogun in Japanese history.

The book did not help the flight home however. We got stuck behind some woman who would not shut up to save her life. For almost the entire flight she would yap, yap, yap, just like a barcking chihuahua. I wanted to scream but hey, it was a confined space.



What was even worse was after we got back into the U.S. We had a layover in L.A. and the only seat available was next to these Austrailian women that had to have overdosed on caffine because all they did was talk. They talked about everything from their trips to Europe to what they had for dinner on their last flight. Unfortunately for us they were flying through Texas on their way somewhere else. We hoped that they would not have seats anywhere near us but we were hoping in vain. Luckily for us, Dallas was our last stop. When we finally made it home around 8:30 p.m. we had to find all of the cats and dogs and make sure they were all there and in one piece. They are our little children you know.

Anyway, if you ever get to go overseas, Japan comes highly recommended from yours truly.

Rock On