I met Tutu on August 16, 2003. I found her in Tokyo, a few days before moving to San Francisco, on a rainy, miserable day. She was tiny. She was yelping under the cover of a bush, obviously alone and lost. I brought her home.
I was desperate because I had 2 cats of my own, but more importantly, I was about to move internationally and could not possibly care for her. Back then blogging was just a budding thing and us Tokyo bloggers had a tight community. I posted about Tutu, and wonderfully, Tracy came to the rescue. And when I said it was meant to be, it really was.
Tutu just passed away. Tracey wrote a beautiful post about her. My heart goes out to Tracey.
Tutu brings back so many lovely Tokyo memories. Now, I am a wife and mama. Tracey too. Katsuo, a huge part of my adult life, has died. Tutu, a symbol of my life in Tokyo just as Dav and I met, is now gone. Life keeps trudging on. It's certainly strange to notice how old I am getting...
Our roots in San Francisco are growing deeper and deeper. And I get a kick out of thinking that Tesla and Aila will grow up here, where the beauty, the amazing creative people, and the charm are all normal to them.
Here Dav and I had an hour to kill between dropping T off, and seeing her annual school performance. So we hung out, and I got this pic of Aila that is almost what a tourist might take. I didn't even notice the background for a while. Reminds me of this picture. All in a regular afternoon because we live here...
Part of our roots is tied to a wonderful community that started with Tesla's preschool (Nihonmachi Little Friends). Tesla now goes to Rosa Parks Elementary, which is close to her preschool and Japantown. She attends the after school program run by her preschool, and many kids go to N.L.F. and Rosa Parks. I am getting to know the parents, as well as alumni parents who still chip in to support the Japanese program at Rosa Parks years after their kids graduated. This program is 37 years old, and I am learning the history and incredible efforts it has taken to provide this wonderful program Tesla is thriving in. I feel proud to be the new generation.
To that end, we participated in a fundraiser for the 2 organic gardens and chicken coop by painting 2 tiles that will soon decorate the yard. We envision Aila going to NLF (hopefully with same teachers who saw me pregnant with Aila!) and continuing on to Rosa Parks. I love the idea that she will see these tiles that are from her family permanently up at Rosa Parks.
T painted a castle tree. Dav did the sutro tower.
Here is T with her Star Student award. What caught my eye here is what a mom I am. This is the kind of picture I used to see as a girl, and how I saw my mom. And here I am now, a mother of 2. I look forward to when both girls are older, and I can show them some pre-kid pictures and share who I was before becoming a mama.
But for now, I am loving being immersed in mama stuff. Like this drive with the kids brings me smiles:
And now for some Aila pics. As baby 2, indeed, there is less time to take and post pictures of her every movement : ( However, I didn't have the iPhone before Aila so in many ways with technology, I am getting better everyday pictures. I am planning on doing a photography session to capture Aila in her incredibly cute stage professionally. That will be nice.
What I can say is that she is the love of my life (well, I have 2 others too). Just sitting on the sofa with her babbling and giving me gummy (slobbery) kisses is bliss, and the fact that she constantly wants to be held by me even though it is tiring, warms me. She is very smiley, and I sense her humor through giggles and looks. I am looking forward to getting to know this gal!
At T's hiragana poster where T teaches her. Aila knows this is an important thing on the wall. Anything her sister touches is amazing to her.
I see how second kids have such a different experience. T had a lot of adult time. Aila gets more kid time which means being played with or being used to play ; ) It's a special kind of interaction that she clearly enjoys, and I can see her learning so much from it.
Lastly, now we have Aila joining the annual hinasama pics. My mom sent an addition to our set so now we have 2 rows. The prince and princess, and her 3 court ladies.
Months ago I eagerly signed up to be a parent volunteer for T's class at Rosa Parks for visiting Hidden Villa. It just so happened it was the day after coming back from Tokyo, but what's more important? Sleep or being with kids on their special day? Surprisingly, jetleg didn't hit me, and I had a wonderful time.
We have been there before, actually, thanks to Niki, our friend who used to live on that farm. That was back in 2007 when Tesla was just a younger than Aila is now! Niki gave us an individual tour, and now that I have gone as a group, I realize what a treat that was. Thanks, Niki!!
T enjoying the chickens...
Then one got spooked, and I am pretty proud I got a snap of the flying mayhem.
T's class was divided into groups, and at the end, we took a group pic. I keep giggling to see T there, right in the middle, with her pose and side look! She is such a character that girl of mine!
When was that? A while ago, yet just a bit ago. Was a quick and wonderful trip, and I took Aila with me. Her first international trip. Since she is so attached to me, I was worried about leaving her all day with my parents while I worked, but she was a charm. My mom had a wonderful although fatiguing time since Aila doesn't nap much. Totally worth it. I've taken Tesla so many times, that I am glad Aila got a chance.
Here is the moment when Aila saw daddy at the airport after a week. Happy girls we were.
I didn't take many photos while there, but do like this one I took the day I left. My mom's calligraphy shuji brushes. Amazing no?
And the lovely site of Tesla's room with me gone for a week. I dislike being such a mom, but I made Dav and Tesla clean up pretty quickly ; ) Secretly, I see this and smile, knowing how much fun she had.
After a week in Japan with Aila, I still feel a wave a jet-lag in the afternoon. Also since coming back, it's been non-stop go go go, so recovering has been incremental. Aila was a gem on the flight to Japan and back, and also with my parents. I myself loved having focus time with her too.
Until I have time to blog, here is Miss Cutey Pie Smiley Face.
This week, Tesla is Star of the Week, where she gets to share with her class about herself. She has pictures of her family (I made sure Wakame and Katsuo were included), and added a few of herself at Burning Man and Camp Tipsy. She brought favorite books & her fancy princess things.
For what she wants to be when she grows up, she drew herself as "mama" with a baby named Aila. Apparently different from her sister, but she will have a baby named Aila. For her favorite thing to do, she said, "making splashes in puddles," and for why she is special, she said, "because I can make origami."
She was so excited to put it up with me this morning, as was I. I love Tesla!
This is an old postcard I bought many years ago as it caught my eye. I never sent it to anyone as it's a bit unique. I had it in my "letter writing" box, and the other day, Aila (newly nicknamed as Grabby), happened to pull it out.
Perfect. I realize I will probably never send this to anyone, but bought it for myself. I have always loved and been intrigued by historical photos, of real life situations that you can relate to on one hand, but it's contextually so different on another.
This scene is post-war Japan, still poor and emerging from a devastating war experience. A bride is heading to her wedding, in this case quite humbly, but with full celebration and wonder by the neighborhood kids. Her wedding attire, however, is full on. Would be fancy by even today's standards. She has the 角隠し (tsunokakushi), traditional Japanese wedding headwear.
This is traditionally worn to veil the bride's horns of jealousy, ego and selfishness. It also symbolized the bride's resolve to become a gentle and obedient wife. (Wikipedia)
There is something not so cool about that, but honestly, I almost find it tongue in cheek, seeing the horns not about bad characteristics, but strength. A bride with horns is powerul, and the groom may not know about the horns, but he will learn to understand, and if smart, appreciate.
I also am drawn to this picture because of the haircuts of the girls, the short bobcuts. My mom had a cut like that, and I can almost picture her being one of these young girls. I wish I could peek into her world back then.
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