Today was my departure day back to America. I prepared breakfast for my parents. The menu was as usual; healthy and digestive healthy foods.
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There was one funny story about my dad. He is a white cane carrier and claims he is blind. But my mom believes his eye vision is gradually coming back miraculously.
After breakfast, I was washing dishes. I was using a small amount of water and washing dishes quietly. My mom was standing in front of me. My dad came to my mom. He probably didn’t see me that I was standing right in front of my mom. My dad was putting a giggling smile on his face. He whispered to my mom about me. He said my hair was real bushy and so, I totally look like an Indian. I busted into laughter. I told my dad I was there and heard it. My dad was surprised at my voice. He thought I was somewhere else.
Anyways, it proved my dad could see my bushy hair. That means he is not totally blind. I didn’t get offended by his comment. I took it as a complement. I am happy to look like an Indian. My soul is originally Native American anyway. One thing my dad does not know is a real Native American has a beautiful long hair, unlike my bushy hair.
***
In the morning I tried to put all my clothes including my pajamas in my small case, but all the fabric items got too fluffy and big to fit. The cardboard box I got from the store was too thin to hold securely my items during the rough treatments by airport workers. The cardboard box the house helper got me was sturdy but it was too small. I was struggling for the final packing.
My mom told me to go to their outside shed. She said I could take any bag or suitcase from there.
In their shed, I found a small carry case. I was delighted to find it. I brought it back to the house, but soon I found out the case did not contain enough space for my items. I brought it back to the shed. This time, I found a nice large sized suitcase. I was delighted again and brought it back to the house.
The suitcase was definitely a perfect size, but there was one problem. In the middle, there was a three digits’ combination lock. At first I thought my parents would give me the numbers. But they didn’t remember the combination numbers. My dad was standing beside me and gave me some ideas of the combination numbers. We tried their birthdays, phone numbers, house numbers, address, their favorite numbers, and so on. Nothing worked. My parents suggested to forget about the suitcase. I had no option but to listen to their suggestion. I brought the nice sized suitcase back to their shed.
By then it was already past 10 p.m. The house helper arrived at home. My cousin stopped by again. He was on his way to his business trip to Kyushu, but he wanted to see me at the last moment before I go back to America. It was nice of him.
My cousin was watching me struggling for packing. He went down to the garage and brought a bag from his car. He gave the bag to me. It was a huge sized cloth bag. It can contain anything, but it was so gigantic that my items will be broken by the time I get to America. Then, my cousin left for his business trip.
My dad couldn’t stop giggling by observing me packing. But he was the last person who gave me a wonderful option. He went to his room and brought back one cardboard box. This cardboard box was for moving; nice sized and sturdy. He gave the box to me. With his help, I could finally put all my items in the box. My packing was finally completed.
I regretted I spent almost all morning for struggling in packing. If I were good at packing, I could have spent my spare time for a peaceful time with my parents.
At the time of departure, I hugged my mom. We both started crying out loud. I advised her that she should do everything opposite from what my dad tells her to do. Doing so will reactivate her natural healing ability. The examples are chemotherapy and hyperthermia treatments. Without these harsh treatments, she can stay calm without harsh pains. I also advised her to listen to her body intensely. Whenever her body says it doesn’t need any food, then listen to it; not to eat anything. My dad and other people will keep telling her to eat to get better. The fact is opposite. I asked her to think back her own experiences. Whenever she ate too much, especially at restaurants, she got sicker. On the other hand, whenever she ate home cooking food moderately at home, her physical strength worked well for her. My mom totally agreed with me. She promised me she would do whatever she feels right for her body.
Around noon I called a taxi. My dad and the house helper came down with me to the gate to see me off. My mom could not come down. At the last moment, I hugged my dad and thanked him. I turned to the helper. I shook hands with and thanked her. Then I got on a taxi.
***
When I got on the taxi, I was very emotional and about to cry. But the taxi driver changed my mood. He probably sensed my emotional feeling, so that he started saying all the nice things about my mom. He said he has given a ride to my mom several times. He said my mom is a cheerful person. He always enjoys talking with my mom. I appreciated the taxi driver for his kind words about my mom.
I took the taxi all the way to the airport shuttle bus stop. It took us one hour ride and cost me 7,460 Yen. It was pricey but I am glad he was my taxi driver. He helped me to carry my two luggage in and out from the trunk. I was surprised for his kindness. The taxi driver said it is normal in Japan. I forgot about how kind and polite Japanese services are. I now am used to American services, which much lower quality than that of Japanese, sorry to say my honest feeling. The taxi driver was a very funny man. He made me laugh a lot. He resembled to one of my favorite Japanese manzai comedians; Ina-chan.
***
From there, I took the airport shuttle bus to get to the airport.
***
In the morning I received a notice from the airplane company that my international flight will be delayed by 2 hours and 30 minutes. The original departure time was 6:10 p.m., but their new departure time was 8:40 p.m. I could have stayed little more longer at my parents’ house, but I needed to go to the airport counter to change my connection flight.
***
The representative of the airplane company changed my connection flight. I was not happy with the flight. My original arrival time at my last airport was 5:06 p.m., but my new connection flight will arrive at 10:31 p.m. and I will have to wait almost six hours at San Francisco airport.
I contacted my husband and daughter. They said it’s still okay as long as I would go back home on the same day. They were right. I should be happy that I could see them within today.
***
After I checked in, it was still 3:30 p.m. I still have to wait another five more hours until the departure. I went to the Japanese noodle restaurant my mom recommended. I ordered a set of Japanese noodle and Katsudon (a deep-fried pork cutlet rice bowl). I enjoyed the meal very much. Then I went to a massage store and had a 30-minute relaxation massage. The female massage therapist worked on my neck, back, and shoulder, and calf and foot. I would definitely come back to these two stores for my next trip. I liked them very much.
***
Finally I got on the international flight. All the seats were completely full. My original seat was assigned at the window seat, but I could change it to an aisle seat. When I looked around all the seats were full, I thought it as a miracle that I could change my seat to an aisle one. I am definitely sure it was a support from my spirits and angels.
***
My international flight landed at San Francisco airport on time.
While we were waiting for the airplane door to open, I heard one woman standing in front of me was going back to the same final destination as mine. I started talking with her. I mentioned I too was going back to the same final destination as hers. I mentioned to her it was unluckily for us to wait for six hours for the next flight. She said her next flight was not that bad. She showed me her airplane ticket. Her connection flight would arrive 8:30 p.m., which was two hours earlier than mine. I showed my ticket to her. She asked me if I would feel comfortable in speaking English on the phone. I shook my head. She gave me her kind smile and said she would like to help me. We introduced each other. Her name was Vicky.
Vicky called the airplane company to change my flight to the same one as hers. Vicky explained nicely to the airplane representative. The representative needed to talk to me in person as a confirmation that I authorized Vicky to talk on behalf of me. Everything went well miraculously. The representative had only one seat available in Vicky’s flight. Vicky successfully changed my connection flight to the same one as hers. With her kind support, I could see my husband and daughter two hours earlier than the previous plan.
Vicky told me she had visited her daughter in Taiwan. She stayed there for three weeks. There, many Japanese people were nice to her and her daughter. Some Japanese people offered the similar help that she did to me. When she and her daughter had a tough time to communicate with store personnel or restaurant worker, some Japanese interpreted for them. Vicky was so impressed at the kind supports she received from Japanese people. She was happy to be able to pay the kindness back to Japanese by supporting me in return. It was happy to hear her beautiful story. I appreciate the Japanese people who supported Vicky during her trip.
***
Unfortunately our next flight was also delayed in its departure by one hour. Still, it was one hour earlier than my original flight.
I arrived at my final airport on 9:30 p.m. I saw my husband and daughter at the luggage turn table.
I run to them and hugged both of them. I cried for happiness to see them again.
three wisdom 