Forever Young...

Otherwise known as An Overseas Email...

About a month ago I received my annual birthday message from my dear friend Miyochan.

I met Miyochan, whose real name is Miyoko, when I lost my shoes at the company she worked for.  You read correctly... I lost my shoes when I took them off and replaced them with slippers, as was the custom.  I couldn't find the cubbies where my shoes had been placed, and it was late and I was ready to get home. 

Miyochan found me, and although she spoke very little English at the time, I managed to convey that I needed to find my shoes so that I could go home.  After we found my shoes, she walked her bicycle next to me as we made our way to the bus stop.  I spoke the Japanese I knew, she spoke the English she knew, and we were two people from opposite ends of the globe, communicating. 

Our communication (Miyochan managed to find me each week after I finished teaching my company lesson) grew into friendship.  I taught her English in my apartment once a week, and when Pierre and I moved to Canada, she followed us, applying to the English language program at Acadia University (and subsequently moved in) about six months after we made our own transcontinental shift.  We have kept in touch through email a few times a year ever since-- and she always sends me the loveliest handmade gifts.  

Miyochan has been reading Single, and after getting her email last week, I had to share her fun, in some ways startling insightful, words.  The following has not been altered in any way, aside from formatting the font, and removing Miyochan's last name.

 Dear　Jenchan,
 
　Nice　to　hear　from　you!
 
　I　am　very　happy　that　you　had　a　
very　excellent　birthday!　
 
　When　I　have　a　free　time,　I　am
reading　your　blog　and　having　an
enjoyable　time!
 
　Jenchan,　you　always　surprise　me!　for
you　are　taking　salsa　lessons,　training　for
half　marathon,　working　as　usual　and　
have　completed　exercise　with　Chad!?
Wow!!　that's　great!!
What　a　tough　girl　you　are!
I　think　that　you　must　be　a　planning
your　happy　wedding!　or　joining　navy??
hahaha　I　am　just　kidding!　navy　is　joke!
 
 I　believe　that　suffering　is　bitter,　but　
it's　fruits　are　sweet!　Yes!　There　is　always
a　way　to　improve　your　life!
Ｉ　hope　you　have　to　change　the　title　
of　your　blog　to　
"A　Wife　and　Husband　in　a　Pleasant　Town"
very　soon!
　
Seriously　speaking,　when　I　see　your　picture　
in　your　blog,　I　always　surprise　that　you
look　very　young　and　not　only　cute　but　also
inviting　beautiful,　so　you　should　decrale　that
"　I　am　beautiful!　Not　cute!　"
 
　But!　Jenchan!　Not　Work　So　Hard!
Ｉ　am　worry　about　your　health!!
Please　be　careful　get　pulled　muscle.
Take　good　care　of　your　health.
 
　Well,　I　will　contact　you　again!
 
　Please　give　my　best　regards　to　your　family!
 
　May　we　be　forever　young!!　hahaha!
 
　Affectionately　yours,
 
　Miyoko　I.　hope　stay　young.(^-^)v

I don't know about the very soon part of A Wife and Husband in a Pleasant Town (although it does have a certain ring)... but I definitely believe in forever... young.