It's been awhile since I've posted (the name of this blog IS appropriate), but it's been a hard couple of months. After my father suffered his stroke, I booked a ticket back home for Christmas.
That feels wrong to say. I've been living in Japan for 26 years, and in this house for 16. I've been married for almost 23 years. Home is here in Japan. I'm leaving home for Christmas. But the Pacific Northwest is where I came of age, attended university. It is where my parents live, my brother and his wife. I was 29 when I moved to Japan for supposedly one year. So somehow I'm always stuck with this dichotomy: Which is home?
My son and daughter are in university in Washington State. Is it their "home" now?
My younger brother, who has been taking care of my parents, was hospitalized for a week. He's home now, but still not close to 100%. My going back to the States for the holidays is more important than ever. It will be great to be with my parents, my brother and my children. But my wife is staying here in Japan to help take care of her own family.
So I'm going somewhere for Christmas. God help me, it still feels like home.
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