Yesterday I returned home. Originally I am from a small sleepy area of Yokohama named Hodogaya. However, I now call Okinawa my home and it is nice to be back. Perhaps the main reason it is so nice to be back is that Okinawa is still warm. Yokohama is quite cold now, and I couldn't go any where without a warm coat. I could walk around in shorts and a T-shirt today.

Many people have already written to me and asked where I have been the last several months, and it is a painful issue that I really don't want to go into. Basically it involves a man I dated who lied to me about everything about himself, and his status. I learned a lot

about men, and relationships, and I think it will be a long time before I can trust anyone so fully again. Of course this could have been much worse, and I am grateful that I have friends and family who helped me through it. Mostly I am grateful to my sister, Hitomi. She is younger than I am, but she is far more experienced. I thought that she was a silly little girl, but she tought me not to be so judgemental. Afterall it was me who turned out to be the silly one.

Let's not dwell upon the negative. I am certainly grateful to Ron-san and his wife, my cousin Keiko and their son Renfield. They let me stay at their place while I tried to resort my life and assured me that I could return to my job any time I liked.

I wanted to get away from Okinawa for awhile so Ron-san sent me to Wajima to look over the production of the new Maki-e pens that we will release before Christmas.

I have to say that I loved Wajima. The people were so friendly and helpful. Oneday I became lost, and I asked a shopkeeper for direction. He not only gave me directions, but he closed his store and walked with me for five blocks.

More latter.

Love, Meg

meg@kamakurapens.com