Home + a few days

OK. Petaluma is somewhat less exciting than Shizuoka and Hamamatsu. But, it is home. The bed is familiar; the bath is familiar; the kitchen is familiar, though I’ve done no cooking, yet. Best of all, I’ve got Jerrie - no offense to the best Team I can imagine, but they are no substitute for Jerrie, not even close. And, I love them dearly.
So, thank you to Tom Ogaki, Matsuhashi san, Yamaoka san, and Yoshi Miyazawa san - my hosts. You guys made this trip beyond anything I could have imagined possible. You made me, a guest who knew nothing of your culture and your family, feel as if I was a part of that family - loved and tolerated despite my weaknesses. The warmth you showed and the nourishment you provided - emotional and practical - made this experience wonderful for me.
Major thanks to Tom Ikedo, District GSE chair and organizer of this trip, shepherd of the Team, confidant and interpreter of what we saw and did. You donated your time to me, freely and graciously - I can not thank you enough for all you did - the wonderful restaurants that I would never find on my own, like the little one run by your friend in Hamamatsu - think of me when you open c3p0 - and sites like the Kite Museum.
Thanks to the Rotary clubs whose members gave us generously of their time and energy, guiding us to intensely rewarding sites and activities that we never would have experienced without Rotarian help.
There were many many people who made the trip so much better and I can not name them all. Honda san helped keep us all together on the airport trip from Hamamatsu to Narita, freely guiding as needed on that sunny walk through Tokyo. Takahara san contributing his time and energy to me with Yamaoka san and guiding Bri back to safety when the Team was worried about her (unnecessarily as it turned out but we couldn’t know). Sone san who is the out-going Japan GSE Team Leader for his help meeting his Team - I expect to really enjoy his visit to District 5130. DG Nakayama san and his bunnies and warm welcome for greeting us so thoroughly on the first day and treating us so well at his District conference - hundreds of Rotarians singing around the room, but I got him as my partner. Our factory and tour guides, our tea masters, our kimono dressers, the monks who showed us their temples and helped with meditation exercise - one of whom slapped me (at my request admittedly) - all were very gracious. Thanks to the doctors who could guide me around the hospitals, in English, so the complex stuff was reasonably explained, and to the English teachers who served as our interpreters at so many times.
Thanks to the District Governors who chose me for Team Leader and the GSE chairs who cooperated in that choice. They trusted me, a major leap of faith - I can only hope that I satisfied their expectations.
So, the experience was beyond my dreams. The food of Japan was a daily delight. The cultural experiences were not possible outside of Rotary. The Team was the best I could imagine, ever. Yet, I am glad to be home but would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you all.

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