From Lisbon to Tokyo

I was teaching in Lisbon when I got the news that my first grandchild, Zadie, was born. That night I went to a Fado Music Club and wrote a letter to her welcoming her to this Earth and promising that I would take her to this club when she turned 15. A promise that gave us both something to look forward to.

 

14 years later (not 15), here we are, about to share an adventure together in her first time out of the country. But instead of Lisbon, it’s Tokyo, by her request. I write this at the Bangkok Airport, about to fly to Japan. She should have arrived in San Francisco by this time, picked up by her Aunt Talia to spend the night before either Talia or my wife Karen will take her to the airport tomorrow for her flight to Tokyo. I admire Zadie’s bravery in flying alone all that way and appreciate that I didn’t have to fly all the way back to San Francisco and turn around back to Tokyo! Instead, I’ll spend the night at an airport hotel to make sure I’m ready to greet her when she arrives tomorrow. 

 

While I wait for her, I plan to wade through all the suggestions multiple people have made about what we should do and where we should go and what we should see. It seems like virtually everyone I’ve mentioned this trip to—in San Francisco, in Singapore, in Bangkok—has been to Tokyo and fairly recently at that. All without exception light up with enthusiasm, sharing how much they enjoyed it. 

 

The challenge is balancing the things an old Zen meditator/ haiku-reader/ Kurosawa movie fan, would like to see with a 14-year-old’s fascination with anime, manga, food machines, and pop culture. I’m perfectly fine mostly following her lead, but of course, will insist on a temple or two and a walk in a park with plum blossoms and maybe even a Bunraku puppet performance. 

 

I began this post in Bangkok and finish it here in Narita Airport, waiting for my airport shuttle bus. It’s cold!!!!  After two weeks in short sleeves and shorts, I’m back in blue jeans and my puffy jacket and eagerly waiting for the sweaters Zadie is bringing me tomorrow!

 

And so, a 14-year-old promise/dream about to be fulfilled. And who knows? There’s probably a Fado Club in Tokyo!!