When God Sends Angels

Spring holiday in Japan is a carefree island of time nestled between the end of one school year and the start of the next. Not a schedule nor bento prep in sight! That means plenty of time for kindergarten play dates in the park and picnics under the fluttering cherry trees. The snowfall of blossoms swirling on a springtime breeze is a little bit of heaven, and it's easy to see why the Japanese so dearly treasure this time of year.

The holiday will soon end, and in a few short days our sweet group of children will scatter to various primary schools to begin first grade. The children will part ways, and that means moms must do the same. I couldn't let that happen without thanking three of the moms in particular who had such a positive impact on our time at the kindergarten.  

These are the moms behind all those written memo translations, conference interpretations, and park invitations when we first arrived. These are the moms who selflessly initiated trips to the city ward office - 7 train stops away - to transcribe our U.S. immunization records into kanji and to complete school paperwork on our behalf. These are the moms who ferried us through our Christmas flu by entertaining and looking after Patrick till Evelyn and I were back on our feet. "Good heavens," you must be thinking. "What would you have done without them?" Ummm....exactly!

In the beginning, they were mere strangers offering kindnesses at every turn. Not much has changed since then - they continue to shower us with thoughtfulness.  The difference now, though, is that strangers have become friends. I can't begin to thank them enough for what they've done, but I do thank God for sending them. Yes, thank Heaven for angels! :-)

Godsends left to right...Shinobu, Kuremi, and Hiromi at
our celebratory dinner in Mid-town.