I have to pay tribute to likely the most distant viewers of this blog: HELLO TO AKIKO AND TETSU!! Akiko is a hometown friend whose family lived in the United States for a number of years after her father got transferred from their native Japan to Michigan. Akiko and I met nearly 15 years ago and formed a wonderful friendship that remains to this day. Communication is done intermittently over email due to Akiko's return to Japan after we graduated from high school, but we still manage to catch up on each other's lives despite the distance.

One of the coolest trips I've taken in my life was to Japan for Akiko's college graduation. Andrea and I made the trip together, and met Akiko's now husband Tetsu, who was kind enough to put us up in his apartment during our stay, and drive us all over Hiroshima and surrounding areas to show us Japan.

Akiko, Andrea, and myself in Japan in 2002:


Akiko and Tetsu are the proud parents of two beautiful little girls. Momoka is 4-years old and Yuna is 3-months. While we realize a trip to the States for our wedding is probably impossible, we do hope to someday reconnect either here or there!

Tetsu & Akiko at their wedding:


Tetsu, Yuna, and Momoka:


SAYONARA!