Keeping up with the Tanakas

Home for the holidays, there is nothing better. Everyone in Japan keeps asking what I did while I was in California, but do they really want to hear about taking a walk with my sister and smiling as her husband lifted Sam up onto his shoulders, playing cards with my mom, checking out the new artwork in my aunt's home, having a slumber party with my sisters, meeting my brother for Super Mex, stocking up on bear hugs from my dad? This trip was all about family. It had been a year since I had been back and I only had two weeks to soak up the love. I was busy! Still, it was so great to browse in a bookstore where I could actually read the books, to try on clothes in shops where things actually fit, to place an order for coffee without confusion because the person behind the counter was not stunned by the Japanese words coming out of the American mouth. We went to Disneyland. I went to a King's game. Walked around Target for hours. I played Wii for the first time ever. I laughed. A lot. I ate. A lot. Enchiladas, nachos, burritos, tamales and best of all, my mom's chorizo breakfast. I drove. Pig man and his daughter descended upon the movie theatre. We celebrated Mina's 6th birthday at American Girl Place. I ate lunch with my father on California Pizza Kitchen's patio. Made egg rolls. Drank Cherry Coke. Had the best Sunday brunch of my life - yes, the food was good, but mostly I think it was the company.