I'm about to welcome my third
Christmas in Japan.
And every time the season comes around, it takes me back to December 2006 when I was crazy busy packing 12 years of my life into 10 boxes and saying my goodbyes to all my beloved friends in southern
California. The worst thing of the madness of moving to another country was that I had to say my tearful farewell to the feline love of my life,
Maple. (My name being the national tree of Japan,
cherry blossoms, I named my cat that of Canada).
I first met her at a local animal shelter. Merely 2 weeks old, she was in a glass case amidst other kittens. I picked up and held her, and I remember how she scarcely weighed anything in my
hands, and yet, she was this
warmest hairball thingy that I had ever felt. Though shaking, she barely moved. I looked at her, and she was just this tiny
life, unaware of my strange hands that were holding her yet trusting in them that they will not let go of her (or not knowing how
not to trust yet, really). And I knew that moment that I had to have her.
I can't go on talking about her without choking up, so I am just going to put up a bunch of pictures that highlighted my last part of my life in the states.
She is now with my co-worker/friend K and her family and is living
happily. She is in good hands, and she is lucky to be with people half as
nice as them. Yet, I miss her. And I miss her the most in December.
Merry Christmas, Maple. I love you!
Until next time,
Sak
