Author Archives: Reiko

Recently, David and I made a day trip to and from Frankenmuth. It is about an hour drive from where we live. Frankenmuth is known for its chicken dish, served with sauerkraut (cooked cabbage) and potatoes. The chicken is delicious! … Continue reading →

David and I are of the baby boom generation. He grew up in the U.S.A.; and I, in Japan. In the 1960s, when my brother and I were old enough to understand what was going on, my parents used to … Continue reading →

One would think that when retired from work, there should be far less stress than when working full time while juggling family and other responsibilities. Sure, this is true to a certain extent but not necessarily. Who would have thought? … Continue reading →

If my mother were alive, she would have turned 99 years old today. At age 19, she went into an arranged marriage with a man who was a decade older. Thereafter, both her older sisters believed that she was happily … Continue reading →

Perhaps like most people, I have never been one to go out of my way to be in search of friends. Those few who stuck with me over the years came into my world “organically,” or by chance encounters, and … Continue reading →

After the 2009 fire at our previous residence, there was just one thing that I wanted to make sure of. That is, upon completion of the rebuild, a Japanese maple tree was planted in the front yard in place of … Continue reading →

Years ago, David and I were at the wedding of David’s brother John and his first bride-to-be. We were their best man and bride’s maid respectively. They have since divorced. In any event, the night before the event, we had … Continue reading →

Looking back, I have always been healthy my entire life. Aside from getting the right amount of sleep each night, rarely over-eating, and some pure luck, I attribute this primarily to some simple habits that were instilled in me by … Continue reading →

Lately, I’ve often been thinking a lot about the song, “My Way,” by Frank Sinatra. The lyrics of this song truly sum up my life, as I am sure it does for many others – even though each of us … Continue reading →

Today, February 17, 2024, we are celebrating our 52nd wedding anniversary. I consider any time given to us to spend together over the half-century mark, which we celebrated in 2022, as an “omake (o-mah-keh)” or “special extra.” It reminds me … Continue reading →