Farewell to Tsushima

7-13-11

Dear Tsushima,

Thank you for helping to restore my faith in friendship and love. I've opened myself up to loving my students here and have been filled to overflowing with love in response.

Thank you also for helping me to be more adaptable and self-reliant. You've had me face many challenges in the past 3 years, including making friends with myself to survive the loneliness of living alone (well, with 'Saki.. I've learned more the limits of what I can't live without, and those include a cat) and learning to let go of things bitchy people do ("Feck 'em," as O would say.)

I've learned that making friends with people can take years-- life's not always like college, with a new influx of people coming into your life and searching for compatible souls. I've learned that cooking can be fun, especially if you start early (so you're not starving mid-way through the preparations) and have company. And/or wine.

I've learned that I have a touch of stage-fright, which includes pre-race jitters when lining up at a start line. And I've learned that I can be as stubborn as the best of them... there's no way I would've finished the half-marathon without that.

I've learned that mold can be a vicious and sneaky enemy, and sometimes you just have to surrender.

I've learned that 2x/week is the absolute minimum times/week that a cat's litter should be cleaned.

I've learned that finding a good/compatible travel partner can be very difficult. Also, making any sort of plans with a Japanese group will require 2x the amount of pre-trip planning and 3x the amount of pre-trip communication that you think it will.... and, despite all of that, there will be at least one change of date. (As O would say, "If you really want to do it, do it alone.")

I've learned that the love of a 1-2nd grade elementary student knows no boundaries, including personal space.

I've learned that you can have as much (if not more) fun at 45 as at 25. It all depends on your attitude.

I've learned that most people will return a smile.

I've learned that volunteering where it's most needed can be the greatest feeling in the world. Getting to the right place and time can be challenging, though.

Thank you, Tsushima, for your breath-taking nature, including the onigiri-mountains, the sunlight reflecting off dust motes through the cedars, and the three nudibranches I spotted while snorkeling last Sunday.

And thank you for always having someone nice run into me just when I needed it, for there always to be a bit of sweetness even during the dark winter days.

I'll miss you.

Much love,
A Great Admirer

P.S. While my Tsushima adventures may be at an end (or at least a very long postponement), check out my new Vancouver escapades at: http://vancouverescapades.wordpress.com