Happy New Year!
With two trips in December (one for work, one for pleasure), Greg correctly assessed this was not the year for elaborate New Years' cards. Hence the simple postcard and this blog addition.
It is hard to believe 3.5 years have passed and we're still in Tokyo with a year and a half to go. Five years is the longest we have lived anywhere since we left DC in January 2008 and started this crazy career. I continue my work in the Embassy's economic section. Greg has a DC job, but teleworks full time from our house in Tokyo. His new office has been pretty understanding of our opposite hours and thankfully he's been able to generally stick to a normal person's schedule.
The boys are all in their same schools, keeping our routine pretty similar. William has traded soccer for volleyball. Patch now has a brown belt in judo. Ian is doing soccer, basketball, and baseball since he can't decide what he likes best. Sadie still yips, and Kuma still howls.
Generally, with having two bonus years in one place, I'm trying out being boring during our remaining time. Sticking with the same hobbies, same sports, same routines, etc. Because, at some level, sameness is actually a different experience for us.
So, with all that continuity, you might ask what is different? Tokyo. Since August 2023, the city has woken from its COVID-induced stupor. It's impossible to go out to dinner without a reservation. I called in August to make a reservation at the hotel we've stayed at when skiing the last three years - and it was fully booked for the entire months of December and January. You name it, people are there. We haven't yet adjusted to the rhythm, and after so many years in South East Asia, simply aren't in the habit of planning ahead like that!
Looking forward to 2024 - two ski trips booked (back when the yen was at 155/USD) - YAY! Some family and friends already booked to visit. YAY! We have tickets to Taylor Swift's Tokyo concert. YAY! Plans underway for July back in the US - YAY! Then ... comes September and William starts his senior year - that's a YAY with an *. (* because he's excited and I'm happy for him, but the thought of not having all my children under my roof is actually very sad, and if it sneaks up on me, I randomly tear up. Which all the boys find hilarious and of course try to unexpectedly provoke.)
