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Well, it’s 3:05 PM Japan time, and it’s @ 20 min until departure. Projected flight time is 8 hours and 41 minutes, 4,800 miles, to Portland, and the pilot is ‘asking the flight attendants to remain seat belted in during takeoff due to projected turbulence.” This is the first rainy day we have seen during our stay, unlike two years ago; Heather, remember all the rain we had on our trip, especially that cold, chilling day in Kamakura? On the flight over, UltraDad had a window seat over the airplane wing; today he is well back of the wing and, clouds permitting should have a good view of passing scenery. I am still a bit emotional after a teary goodbye wave to UltraBob, UltraGirl and UltraLinc through the airport window on our way to Gate 27 after going through airport security. If my cell phone worked here, I would definitely be calling to say goodbye once again. We were excited this morning to learn that UltraGirl and Linc would be coming along to the airport to see us off. Linc was asleep when loaded into his carseat, but stayed awake the whole 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport. UltraMom, with the favored right-next-to-Linc car spot tried to keep him entertained with Mr Yellow and Jingle Duck (his two favorite car toys) along with songs and recitations of Jim Jump, but by the time the car finally stopped, Linc made it known that he wanted out and he wanted out NOW! While UltraGirl made a quick trip to the restroom, UltraMom offered to do the diaper change. Linc, thoughtfully, left her a parting baby care experience: changing a really poopy diaper! Being a little out of practice, I think I used all the travel wipes in the case, but by the time UltraGirl returned, the job was done. We were early for the flight, so after checking luggage, we all sat down and had a coffee (mine was a frothy, sweet frapachino, I think) and said some more goodbyes.  What? Is it time for that already? I KNOW it hasn’t been 20 minutes, but it’s time to put the ‘electronic devices away’, fasten the seatbelts and get ready for takeoff.
Okay, we are finally airborne. I think we are finally past all the flight safety announcements; I have just taken a Bonine for motion sickness; it is a little bumpy up here. We neglected to bring bottled water with us, so, innovatively; I wrapped the pill in some slices of Mikon, or little Japanese tangerines, that were in my carryon. Mikons are one thing about Japan that I will sorely miss. When Heather and I were on our flight home, we played a little game called “Things I will miss and things I will not miss about Japan.” I try to engage UltraDad, but he maintains he wasn’t there long enough to not miss anything. Of course on top of the ‘Miss” list is Linc, UltraGirl and UltraBob, but I tell him I’m not talking about people. So, I play my game solo.
WILL MISS, not necessarily in missable order:
Toilets in the Ultra’s house. Heated seats (When the toilet is flushed, water may be used for handwashing above the tank before it refills the bowl. Also, bidet functions. Nuff said)
Mikon
The shower (it’s a room, not a stall!)
Playing Honafuda with UltraGirl
Cold (and hot!) drink vending machines everywhere
Heated floors
UltraBob’s sense of humor
Japanese Food (most of it, anyway)
Pastries from the grocery store bakery (though, believe it or not, Heather, I was starting to get a little burned out on them)

WILL NOT MISS
Public restroom: Only cold water for handwashing, if that, and no towels for hand drying. Sometimes, no western style toilets; ie toilet is ground level. Plus, public restrooms can be hard to locate for the inexperienced.
Lack of public trashcans.
Narrow streets and sidewalks; can be difficult to walk and talk because you must be on constant lookout for a bicyclist or fast walker coming up behind.
Continually removing shoes: Glad, I brought my slippers, cause my feet get cold.
Being unable to read street signs and other written matter. Unable to understand and communicate, though I can at least now handle a simple store purchase☺

At the end of the day, however, it comes back to WILL MISS, WILL MISS, WILL MISS, and most of these somehow involve Linc
Singing or talking to Linc in the car, he strapped into his carseat. Having the reward of his rapt attention as he listens to my words and focuses on my face.
Bathing with Linc. He has some pretty sweet tub toys, esp the orange crab.
Playing the ‘jumping’ game with Linc: he jumps and I assist. It is also a great arm workout.
Playing the “HI” game with Linc. Here’s how it goes: I hold him in front of me and come around one of his shoulders and say “Hi!” As he turns, I kiss his cheek and say “Good boy!” Then I go around the other side and repeat until he says ENOUGH! Sometimes he really gets into it and actually leans into my kiss and smiles.
Watching Linc with his Daddy. They have several fun games. One involves throwing in the air and catching again, usually with Ultrabob as infielder and Linc as baseball. Most often accompanied by laughing and shrieking. In another game, UltraBob is unable to resist Linc’s deliciousness and makes growly, eating noises as he pretends to eat his son. I know, I know, sounds barbaric, but both eater and eatee seem to be having a good time.
Watching Linc’s face light up when he hears UltraGirl’s voice. When he’s tired, hungry or grumpy, he wants his Mama!
Watching Linc and UltraDad get to know each other. UltraDad’s standard response when asked how he likes his grandson is “He’s a keeper.”

Anyway, we’re physically home now, but our thoughts and emotions are still half a world away. Love you, miss you, can’t wait to see you again.

UltraMom

Even at a young age, Linc is a John Deere man

January 5
Happy 33 Birthday UltraBob. Thirty-three years ago, on a snowy Idaho January when my perfect (though a little blue) baby boy was born, I never dreamed I would be visiting him today at his home in Japan. If I could have designed a wife/best friend for him and a perfect little son, I couldn’t have done better than he has done for himself with Tomoko and Linc. Okay, enough smaltz. That isn’t what you came here for. Right now I’m babysitting Linc while everyone else has gone to the Laundromat. I think this is the first day I have not even been out of the house by this time. It’s nearly 4:30 PM and it’s just starting to get dark. Wow, Linc is sitting near me on the floor surrounded by toys; he just reached over, grabbed my foot and bit my big toed! Ouch! He has four teeth now, half each on top and bottom, and they meet very well, right in the front of this mouth. I was just looking at this floor with all the computer cords, etc, thinking that this house will be drastically rearranged once this baby starts crawling. I think he’s getting close, though he really hates belly time.

I’m meant to be writing about Karaoke and Pumpkin House, so we’ll see how far I get. I can’t really remember the morning of that day, Jan 3 I think, perhaps a Sunday? We get started a bit late, usually, with the morning consisting mostly of Linc playtime. We would have liked to go to UltraBobs favorite Karoke place, Karoke Look, but it’s only open in the evening, and we want to go in the daytime today. Yuri will be keeping Linc, so we drop him off first, then all pile in Mitsu’s car. The first Karaoke place we check out is packed; hour and a half wait. The second choice works out, and we get ice and drinks on our way to our private karaoke room. Mitsu carries the basket of music selector and mikes. Thankfully, there is one catalog that lists song choices in English. Bob starts out with Red Hot Chili Peppers “Soul to Squeeze,” the song he recorded for UltraMom’s birthday. Mitsu sings some popular Japanese songs; most have random English words thrown in among the kanji symbols on the screen. He was a great voice; very strong and true to tone. UltraGirl does her signature “Top of the World” and UltraMom also starts with a Carpenters tune. UltraDad declines a turn at the mike, but claims he is greatly enjoying himself, none the less. And so it goes, in turn. At one point, when it is UltraGirl’s turn, there is a challenge. I don’t really understand how this works, but apparently she can compete for points with some other person at some other karaoke bar. She does an amazing job, and ends up with a score of some 90 points, but her challenger is rated slightly better. We decide the machine is broken. Another notable song selection includes UltraBob’s “El Paso, which UltraDad really likes. Though he doesn’t want to sing, he says he thoroughly enjoyed himself.  All too soon, the time is up and we had back to the Suzuki house.
We are all going to dinner at Pumpkin Village Station (or something like that), which is one of UltraBob’s favorites. The restaurant, located near the tip of the Mura peninsula, is decorated like a train depot and the inside looks kind of like a railroad car. This is a ‘cook your own dinner’ kind of place, and there are several griddles on the middle of the long table. We end up with UltraDad, UltraBob, UltraMom and Mitsu at one end, and Yuri, Motoji and UltraGirl at the other. The order comes as a raw mixture of batter, veggies and meats, fish, etc with a raw egg on top. This is stirred and poured onto the hot griddle, where it is cooked kind of like a pancake frittata. Mitsu is very charming and competent; he does most of the cooking, and also finishes each creation off with a brushing of sauce and mayonnaise before quartering and serving a piece to each of us at his end of the table. Bob’s favorite type is rice cake/cheese. I like the corned beef. Other varieties are cooking up at the other end of the table; in addition we each have an order of yakisoba. UltraMom declines a special drink, deciding to drink water. Soon water glasses are lined in front of her; Mitsu, UltraBob and UltraDad will make certain UltraMom will not go thirsty while they drink their iced tea (UBob and Mitsu) and beer (UDad). Yuri effortlessly handles Linc while enjoying her meal. The food is great, but the experience and the company are priceless.

I’m going to make this kind of a ‘sandwich’ post and finish today up as well. Yesterday afternoon, with hiking and Sushi, will be a separate post.

Journey with me back to the first part of this post where we left UltraMom and Linc waiting for the others to return from the Laundromat. We had lots of fun, toe-biting aside, but were happy to see some familiar faces. Linc was very happy to see his Mama, and UltraMom greatly appreciated the bag of clean laundry. UMom and Linc had been busy planning a birthday surprise for UBob. There were clues leading to gifts, but first the clues must be earned. UBob and UMom played games of MadGibs, Blackjack, Catchphrase, and, UBob’s nemesis, the dice game. He finally won enough games to run all the clues to ground; one was hidden in Linc’s pocket! The net result was eight gift cards for itunes. Several were from Jimbo and Johnny, the rest from UMom and UDad. UBob had asked me to bring the cards, for which he would pay me in yen, so I know it was something he wanted. I had convinced him (or I THINK so anyway) that I had forgotten to get them, so hopefully it was a fun surprise.
For the birthday dinner, we would be going to the Jailhouse Restaurant. This interesting place was themed to resemble an American old west jail. There was a bar and three tables, which were each behind bars. In order for us to reach our table, our proprietor had to unlock the jail door and remove the handcuffs that were keeping it closed.
I will add to and edit this post later; keep thinking I will have time to get back to it and it isn’t happening right now! But I want to have something to post today. Read this one again in a few days for an updated ending, pictures and more about he amazing Jailhouse Restaurant! Johnny feel free to contribute your memories of this one of a kind eatery.

Okay, continuation is here! We all ordered the ‘ American steak’ off the menu, which came with soup and rice. The plate, when it arrived, was beautiful, with a salad, fried potatoes, a fried egg and a slice of pineapple in the shell. The steak was flavorful, but had a lot of fat, though that probably added to the flavor, come to think of it.  Linc was very fussy, so his Daddy took him out; when UltraMom went out to check, she found UBob rocking his baby in a semi-enclosed building space next door. She offered to take over for a while, and several times almost had the baby asleep when loud motorcycles would come roaring down the street, startling him back awake. UDad was the next to arrive, but I think in the end, UltraGirl had the baby brought back to the table where he more or less behaved for the rest of the meal. We ended the meal by sharing a couple of orders of ‘strawberry milk’, which arrived topped with whipped cream and a real strawberry on the top. I think we were the only diners, though there were a couple of gents at the bar.

Like the old American West: Jailhouse Restaurant


We’re in Jail!

American Steak

Proprieter behind his bar

We get home in time for Daddy and son to take a birthday bath together. Afterwards, followed a hilarious time as Linc, adorable in a white terry cloth hooded robe, attempted to remove the hood. It took him awhile, as he pulled sideways, and when he finally did get if off, somehow it mysteriously would be back and he would have to start all over again. I have a video if I can figure out how to post it, which I probably can’t.

Baby in Hood, a classic

Sunday, Jan 4
Today UltraDad and I ventured out unattended and walked nearly down to Zushi Station. I was a little nervous, but he assured me he knew where he was going. No, come to think of it, that isn’t strictly true. He actually told me repeatedly, while wearing on his face an insufferable look of amused condescension, that we were hopelessly lost and it would be up to me to guide us back home. When most signs around here on streets and buildings are in kanji, it can be a bit challenging to find landmarks, but corner 7-11 Stores (or more correctly here called “7-i holdings”) help out. It was about 9 AM, and we passed many bikes, scooters and purposeful walkers. The play-park was mostly empty; later in the day it will be full of moms and toddlers; in another year, Linc will be playing here. On the way back, we went into the local 7-i holdings to pick up some more camera batteries and to snag a couple of Chinese dumplings. Not remembering the flavors, I just pointed to two different kinds. Mine was a delicious curry, while UDad ended up with a black bean paste filling, which I find a bit nasty. He said he was fine with it, but I noticed he fed a lot of it to the carp/koi, pigeons and crow that congregated near us at the canal edge.
Soon after we returned, UltraBob carried down a smiling Linc, all ready for some quality playtime, which UltraMom and Dad took full advantage of. It was UltraDad who fed Linc his apple and yogurt during the heated-up thanksgiving leftovers dinner. While we cleaned up afterwards, Linc played happily in his bouncy chair. This apparently was the longest bouncy-chair session yet: he ‘played’ his piano and jumped in time to the music as he cooed and explored other toys. Linc is big on jumping, especially when standing on UltraMom’s knees. He is changing and accomplishing new ‘firsts’ before our very eyes. We have seen a couple of small fits of, apparently unprecedented, temper recently, and he seems to be trying to crawl, though the end result of his efforts for now is movement backwards.(not unusual in crawling’s beginning stages) This genius baby actually put a large toy coin IN the toy cash register a few moments ago for the first time, though judging by the following sequence of flailing, destructive baby arms, that may have been an act of randomness, rather than one of intention. The most fun, as far as UltraMom is concerned is a game where she steals kisses on those chubby, baby cheeks from behind as Linc tries to anticipate the direction of the next attack. Sometimes he responds to this game by leaning into the kiss and laughing, other times, with quite forbearance.
I think later today a hike around Zushi is planned, but for now, let me go back in the past………….

Friday, Jan 2
Today would be our turn to reciprocate for the delicious meals we had eaten at the Suzuki’s. We carefully planned our menu based on tradition, expedience, difficulty of ingredient procurement, and…………..on what UltraBob likes. Our daily walk led us, as it usually does, to the grocery store to procure last minute ingredients to accessorize the star of the show: the 12 lb butterball turkey from Costco (yes, Costco in Japan) thawing in the Ultra fridge. Back home, UltraMom, with her trusty ingredient slicing helpers, (UltraBob and UltraDad) got busy making the stuffing, green salad, taco dip and mashed potatoes. With intermittent playing with Linc and while male members of the household napped, UltraGirl and UltraMom pulled out a perfectly cooked turkey (with popout timer popped out) about 5:30 pm; the guests would be arriving around 6:00. This was actually kind of funny: UltraMom was sure the popout timer in the turkey was telling us a lie because if the turkey were REALLY done, the legs should wiggle easily. While attempting to remove the stuffing, she realized the legs were firmly held in place by a wire When that was removed, the legs wiggled MORE than easily; they practically danced a jig.. UltraBob sliced salami & blue and Camembert cheeses and set them out with crackers and sliced French bread as appetizers. Motijo, Yuri and Mitsu and Tomoko were seated on the floor around a low table in the living room, while the westerners used the table and chairs. The meal turned out beautifully and was a great success, judging by the appetites of the guests (and inhabitants). After dinner, Yuri and Motoji soon put the kitchen to rights and served a yummy fruit salad with strawberries, apple and yogurt.
That night, UltraMom got to do the bathing Linc honors, which was great fun. Afterwards, while Tomoko took Linc upstairs for a little bedtime snack, UltraMom and Mitsu, while looking through Linc’s new toy box, came upon three giant card games. UltraMom and Dad had brought them for Linc to play when he was older. Mitsu and UMom, it turned out, were old enough to play them now. Now I don’t like to brag, but I was the consecutive winner of 2 games of GO Fish and 2 games of Crazy 8, even when UltraBob joined in. It took Yuri to end the ‘reign of terror’, taking UltraMom down in a game of Old Maid.
Tomorrow (Or Jan 3) Karaoke and Pumpkin House Station! Stay tuned!

(Check back: pictures will be added soon)

It’s now morning of January 3rd and I’m about a day behind in posting. I got up this morning about 8 AM; Ultradad, had of course, been up over an hour. It’s now 9 AM and UltraDad has gone back for a morning nap, and nothing has yet been heard from the Ultras, Linc included, so, with my morning shower and raisin bran behind me, perhaps now is a good time to bring you up to date.
On New Year’s Day, UltraMom slept in shamefully. When I finally made my bleary-eyed way down the stairs, it was 11:00 AM and with UltraGirl and Linc still away, the ultraguys were ready to go for some brunch. After the morning shower worked its magic, UltraMom was ready for a walk down to Johnny’s favorite-while-in-Japan daily eatery for a beef bowl: rice with seasoned beef strips on top. I don’t remember what the restaurant is called, but it is very popular. You input your order on a vending-style machine: beef bowl, pork bowl, curries, etc. and procure a paper ticket which you give to the worker at the counter. You can order alone or in a ‘set’, which includes salad and miso soup. In the set, you also get a raw egg; I gave mine to UltraBob. Seating in this small building is on high stools around the counter. You can spice up your lunch selection with various sauces, pickled ginger or, of course, soy sauce. Quite, quite good!
Back home, we had a laid-back afternoon.  UltraBob tried with limited success to give UltraMom some needed Mac use skills and created a little program to make posting pics a little simpler for her. Upon request, and while the guys had an afternoon nap, UltraMom tried to replicate her popular Christmas sugar cookies, mostly with success.
And then it was time to head for the Suzuki’s where we were invited for New Year’s dinner.
Dinner preparations were in full swing when we arrived; the door to the kitchen remained closed until the food was ready to be presented. Linc was awake and in a good mood, so he kept the UltraGrandparents entertained. The dinner was amazing. There was a huge platter of fried shrimp and boneless chicken pieces, a big plate of different kinds of sushi, and many other dishes of unknown origin. We each got a bowl of soup, traditional, I think for the New Year. I was warned to be careful of the rice cake soaking at the bottom of the bowl. Apparently, each year, someone chokes to death on the sticky, gummy mass. The soup was very good, but I couldn’t quite handle the rice cake, so gave mine to UltraBob. I felt very brave picking up a piece of raw salmon with my chopsticks, coating it in soy sauce before bringing it to my mouth. It wasn’t bad, but after two pieces, I had had enough. As before, conversing was problematic. Mitsu, UltraGirl’s brother, speaks some English, so that helps. UltraGirl’s Dad had quite a bit of New Year’s cheer and kept UltraGirl busy translating his sentiments, which were quite sweet and favorable towards his son in law’s family. UltraGirl’s Mom is very capable and efficient and is wonderful with Linc.

Shrimp and Chicken

Sushi

At the end of the evening, it was decided to give Linc a bath before heading home. UltraMom was offered the chance to do the honors, but feeling a little shy, declined.  Bathing the baby here is different than in America, where the baby is given a bath in his own, small tub , usually on the kitchen table. Here, after the standing water in the regular bath is heated, an adult gets in the bath and takes the baby in with her/him. It is a delightful experience, since Linc loves the water, and UltraMom has done it twice in the Ultra’s home. So, UltraGirl’s mom did the honors, and a while later, a more relaxed Linc emerged, clad in sleepers and ready for the carseat and ride home.
He didn’t fall asleep on the way home, which is unusual, but was also not fussy. He seemed to enjoy having UltraMom sing softly to him while stroking his forehead.
Okay, that about wraps up January 1st for the Ultras. How did you bring in the New Year?