Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I REALLY think so !!!

Hey kids !!!😀 I've been in and out of town on business (and a little bit of pleasure 😋🍺✈️🎄🦌🎊🏟️🎣🏁💵🏆🤫) and I came home to find that we had apparently moved to Japan 🗻⛩️🏯 in my absence 😯. Tess is still nursing that cold, so I didn't let her meet me at the airport, but I called to tell her I was on my way home, and again when I landed ,because she likes to have everything ready for my arrival.    When the Uber 🚐 driver pulled up to the gate, I asked him to honk the horn and a few moments later the intercom crackled and a little voice called out "Konichiwa!" (with a slight Louisiana drawl😮)  The driver and I looked at each other. It was about 6pm and I thought he'd taken a wrong turn in the dark."Uhhh ,I don't think this is my house." He raised an eyebrow🤨 and repeated the address I had given him.

"Yeah, that's it." 😕(I said warily ) The gate opened suddenly and he drove through. We were halfway up the driveway lined with paper lanterns when the front door opened and  👘 The infamous "Ginger Geisha" appeared between two new potted plants on the steps, knelt down and began bowing as if the Emperor himself had arrived😏. She said something in Japanese and bowed a few more times. The driver looked impressed. "Does she do that everytime?" I only smiled. (Bless My little Tess.🤗)  I do always get an enthusiastic welcome home, but this was extravagant, even for Tess ! It used to embarrass me the way she fusses over me, but I think (after nine years) I am finally learning to relax and enjoy it. In contrast, over a decade ago, the last time I came home from a LONG, very unpleasant business trip to a country I won't name (wonderful people, terrible food and weather), I paid the cab driver, dragged my luggage inside and looked for my family whom I hadn't seen in four long months! My (soon to be ex) wife was sunning herself by the pool. I had to clear my throat three times before she could draw her attention away from the magazine she was engrossed in, long enough to look up and say "Oh......(yawn ) Are YOU back?"🙁  Yeah😒 . Anyway, that's ancient history.🤞)               Back to the present...............
The driver unloaded my luggage, I tipped him and he gave me a thumbs up ,and dare I say it, an envious smile and drove out of gate.When he was gone Tess got up and hugged the life out of me (or is it INTO me ? ) and covered my face with sweet kisses.😘  Just inside the mudroom door, she took my jacket,  sat me down on the bench, stole my shoes and socks and replaced them with a pair of house slippers."What are you doing ?" "Come and see!" She put her soft little hand in mine and led me into the front room. The house hadn't been decorated for the holidays when I left, but it was now ! 🤨

Tess' friend Lily had stayed with her while I was gone and they had decided to have a Japanese-themed Christmas and New Year's this year.  They told me about their dinner 😋and their Godzilla🦖/Mothra🦋🐛/Gamera 🐢marathon 😯. As you may know, we're planning a trip to Japan this year🗻⛩️🏯.I was there years ago on business, but I didn't have time to do any sightseeing, so I'm looking forward to going back. Tess' mother went last year (without Tess ! - If you haven't read the The Mommy II: The Return of Mrs.D post from last May ( and why haven't you ??? 🤨I wrote about it there.)  I still feel guilty about it, especially since Mrs. D. used me as her scapegoat.🐐 Again !!! 😡" Well I knew you would not leave HIM for two entire weeks." ,she said. (  I'm "Him" again. ) Of course, I would have missed My Tess, but I CAN fend for myself when I have to. Tess said it didn't matter and that she would much rather go with ME someday😁. Soooo,  I had a shower and a soak and a backrub and put on the new robe that Tess had laid out

for me and went downstairs to a welcome home feast of  :   Homemade sushi

Tempura:

                                                                                                                                                          Soba:  

              

and a green tea ice cream sundae:

and freshly baked cookies

Tess put green tea in her snowball cookies.😣Actually, they were good.

. Then we exchanged our presents🎁. Tess gave me something that I have been wanting for a long time🙊 and my present to her was tickets 🎟️to see her favorite, "Mr.Buble " at Madison Square Garden on February 20th. I think the neighbors heard her scream😆!!! We had tickets to his last concert here, but something came up and we weren't able to go, so I have cleared my calendar 📅 for that night because she never asks for anything and I don't like disappointing her.                            So, while I like that Tess has turned the guest bath into an onsen, and I love the food of course🍜🍠🍣🍰🍵🍱🍛🍚🍤🍥🍙🥚and I'm finding the yukatas comfortable 🥋 and I'm even getting used to her bowing to me and calling me "Shujin-Sama" (MASTER😃
!!!   It's pretty sweet, actually. ) I don't even mind that she keeps taking my shoes,  because when I go to put them back on they have "miraculously" been cleaned and polished. BUT...when she wondered aloud if we should replace the dining room furniture with a low table and cushions and our king-sized bed with a couple of futons, I put these size 13's down HARD !!!👊💪🤬 (I think I scared her !😀) When we are actually IN Japan, I will happily sit and sleep as the customs dictate, but until then, I want all of the comforts of my home.  She has her baby blues on on a Shiba Inu



too. Apparently, they're the cats🐈🐱 of the dog world🤨. We HAVE a dog, I remind her. She says she thinks he's lonely. So after she shows me a few YouTube videos of some Shibas🐶, I have to admit that they are pretty impressive. "Maybe for Valentine's Day💐💝😘." She says No! and tells me that she's priced the puppies and they start at $1200 ! 😮 Me: We'll bring one home from Japan. Tess: No. It would have to go through quarantine. Me: Yeah.Been there, done that. (I felt guilty for weeks and drove the vets crazy with phone calls.) She says she doesn't mind waiting until one finds us. My Tess is a Cancerian with the patience of a saint😇💐. I should know. She waited for me for years (and is still waiting) and has never complained.  A few days later I had to go out of town for a couple of days. When I opened my new bento box on the plane, I found a Shiba Inu made of rice and seaweed🍙 staring up at me.                                  I texted her when I landed. 

The stewardess asked if my "little girl" had made it for me. Yup ! 🤓 Well, "technically" it wasn't a lie. Tess would call it a "fib".   

 "Did you change your mind ? " She said "No." When I got to the hotel , I called a few rescues, but no luck. Is $1200 too much to spend on a puppy 🐶? Probably. Am I still going to get one for her ? Well, the old me would have, but I've changed. For the better. There was a time when I would have spent any amount of money💵 to keep my mate happy. But then, that was NOT My Tess. 🤐 She isn't seduced by material things 🛍️💍🚗and she can't be bought. She turned my life around and taught me that love does not come with a price tag🏷️. Every day I bless her nanny for raising her and the friend that found her for me. She was, and is, my angel😇 and my Godsend. Thank goodness her mother didn't raise her !!! (Take that, Mrs.D.😉!!! ) It's good to be home. 🏠😊