Words escape me but that did not stop me before

Can you recognize the person toasting "kampai" who is under 32? Tough, is it not?

This group is all directly or indirectly related to Sarah.

Thanks to the generosity of Makiko (front right), we were invited to a reunion of some of the participants in the Ship for World Youth. The photo was taken early in the evening so half of the extended familia are not present. The photographer, by then, had put away sufficient sake to limit his ability to get his legs from under the table and crawl over the crowd.

Sarah always told how tight this group was. I am impressed, despite feeling rather fatherly (sounds better than old).  Conversation was animated and we both lasted well past our bed-time.

Today's adventure took us about an hour outside of Tokyo to Kawagoe, a town which has maintained some of that Edo period charm. It is also famous for its cooked use of sweet potatoes from the traditional to a host of sweets that I cannot even describe. Makiko took us out there and thanks to the iPad (squeezed that techno stuff in) we found another Japanese restaurant which produced a great meal. Not barkroot but excellent stuff, none of which I can remember. At another place we had cappuccino and more cake. Not a bad meal in this country.

To the left is another family photo, Masahiro Kawata, our first Japanese teacher and his parents. Today, he has advanced to head of IT for Pinchevsky. We were privileged to be toured around Asakusa by Masahiro's father who sold tabi (Japanese footwear) in this area quite some time ago. Most the shops are gone, but his memories were fresh as he led us through the marketplace, past the shrine and down the street to a shop that was still in operation. We were each treated to a cool pair of this traditional split toe sock-like and comfortable foot cover. I was so thrilled I immediately asked for directions for the nearest Yukata shop, so I could get a robe to complete my comfort. Those who have seen me semi-naked on Skype, no more.

To all of friends, good night.

Marcel