Strolling On The Ginza

Life in the land of the rising sun....well, it was beautiful in the countryside.  We traveled quite a bit when Tom had off from work...it was fun to see how other people lived.  The people that we met were very gracious and bent over backwards to be accomodating to us.

My first love, however, had to be the Ginza - Tokyo's main strip, equivalent to New York's Broadway.  During the day, alive with the hustle and bustle of humanity. Rushing hither & yon to who knew what activity..all very interesting to watch.

Oh, but at night...WOW...the lights, the neon, the vibes......that is my time.  I love New York nights for that reason too.  We tried to travel into the city on a regular basis...I think Tom felt pity for me because of not having too many options to hear English being spoken.  So when a new movie opened...we were first in line...I got to see the first James Bond movie in a Tokyo theater, loving every minute of it.

Coming over on the plane I had met a wonderful woman who was going to work for the US Embassy in Tokyo...as a secretary to the Ambassdor.  Her nickname was "Willie" she was something else. She visited us and came a couple of times to my motherinlaws house for a party.  In turn, I visited the embassy, toured the Ambassdor's private office, lined with momentoes of the Kennedy years, pictures and such.

Walking through parts of the embassy, I always felt like I was entering a church of some kind....also the Marine guards were a bit intimidating...all very very tall..dressed to the T's...standing rigidly at attention.  It actually was impressive.

Through Willie I met a few other girls, so on occasion I would go with them to play Bingo on the base...also sometimes I was able to purchase through them some American items that I was dying to have.  

Of course, as my pregnancy grew I had to tone down my youthful excursions and concentrate on my upcoming "mommy" status....preparing the nest and all that you know.

All my life I have made friends only to "misplace" them because of my moving or their moving...but I loved each and everyone of them...thinking back on these special people...I just have to smile....