Open to an offering

"Japan Airlines flight 781 to Beijing is now departing from gate 85. The flight will be delayed 30 minutes. It's new departure time is 11:30am."

I am in Narita International Airport waiting. Waiting and considering generosity.

Japan has been very generous to us. Almost always in unexpected, unpredictable ways. Take the danishes and juice that has been provided for all Japan Airlines passengers who are experiencing a mere 30 minute plane delay. This is surely unexpected. Jules facial expression mimics mine: confused surprise. Such thoughtfulness. Yes, it is dairy laden thoughtfulness, preservative rich and sugar filled thoughtfulness. But never-the-less we would not be considered this way if we were flying with American.

Even more generous (far more generous in fact) were our hosts. Akiko, her family, and Shoko continually went out of their way to share such love! They treated us to, without question, the best meals we ate in all of Japan. Shoko and Akiko, toured us around a day in Tokyo, they came to Kyoto to spend time with us there, and we all met up last night to eat magnificent suchi in this cozy, friendly, contemporary rotating suchi bar. They were some of my favorite memories and made some of my favorite times. I want to go back just to meet more of their families, and see more of the places they love. And I feel I understand Akiko and Shoko in ways that were inexplicable before.

This morning, Akiko, her mom and her dad all awoke at 5:30am to sort out the logistics of our voyage to the airport. J and I assumed, when we went to bed the night before, that we had all the details sorted. Of course, they were ahead of us. Nariko left the house at six, picked up a cab and brought it back to their house. Then Akiko's dad loaded our bags and Akiko hopped in the cab with us. She left for work 2 hours early just to deliver us to the correct gate of the expansive Shubuya train station. Of course, she bought out tickets for us and then entered the platform just to wish us off.

I feel like a truly lucky woman.

"We are now boarding flight 781 to Beijing. All passengers please proceed to gate 85."