Yesterday marked the three month anniversary at La Costa Glen. I have no regrets. Each day brings more friends, and new activities.
Today my brother arrives in LA. He and Trevor will drive to Vegas then down here to see me! Looking forward to that. Sorry Sue can't come but her Dad needs her.
Japan Story
A few more recollections from the Ju Ichi Ban Yamato days. I attended the International school for kindergarten, which I only remember as playing on the floor a lot with brightly colored toys, and a very cute boy called Bruno, with curly hair!
I moved up to first grade where I learned the Palmer method of cursive writing. First you had to make a series of up and down marks between two ruled lines. Then circles. Then half circles and back again to make a row of continuous 'Cs'. I also learned how to write dipthongs, 'ae' together and 'oe'. In those days dipthongs were actually spelled out.
I walked hand in hand with my father to school, and my future was planned. I might become an 'Analytical Chemist' or perhaps a "Lady Barrister'. Neither of my parents had been able to achieve a university education, but they valued the concept. If there had not been a war, I would probably have been sent to England to boarding school to prepare for Oxford or Cambridge or Bristol University.
I was also urged to be 'self reliant'. At first I thought this might have something to do with lions, but I was rather shy, and did not think I could be bold and self assured like a lion.
My father was also very interested in 'fitness'. He had installed in our side garden a parallel bar on which I could swing from bar to bar. I was encouraged to practice headstands, handstands on the front lawn and up against the wall, and cartwheels. I was not terribly good at cartwheels, but could do a backbend and rise again to standing, into my college years. (Robin was very impressed.)
To be continued.....
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