There may be trouble ahead

Happy New Year
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But while there's music and moonlight and love and romance, let's face the music and dance.
The New Year came upon us as we as a family were all in the restaurant eating our traditional osechi with the Red and white singing contest on TV. My brothers Kenjiro and Hiro and their families were all gathered together. I am really happy to say that this year, Hitomi's sister, her boyfriend and her parents all joined us at the restaurant for an extended family celebration. In one moment that I will never forget, Hitomi's Father, who has not always looked upon me with a favorable eye, held both my hands and wished me a happy New Year. I smiled and wished him the same. Oh I could have hugged him really but knew that would have been terribly impolite. I really hope this is finally his acceptance. Having had a few beers inside him he became quite a jovial character.
For as long as Hitomi and I have been together we have seen the white team (males) win the kohaku (the TV singing contest held each New Year's Eve). This year the red team won. You girls rock!
Dad owes me 100 yen (just over a single US Dollar) - we bet on the outcome and dad said the whites would win again!
The girls stayed up all night to welcome in the New Year and they along with their cousin, Kiyoshichan, were singing along with the songs on TV and texting their friends a New Year wish on their new phones. Even baby Yoshiro awoke at 23:45 as if he knew it was a special moment.
He fell asleep again by 00:30!
The girls gave me and their uncles a small clay turtle each that they'd made in school, a lucky charm as they wished us a wonderful New Year. We gave them their New Year Treasure, small envelopes containing money which is very similar to the Chinese tradition. We phoned Dad who was staying at our eldest brother's home to wish them benign blessings for the coming year.

At one thirty I asked the girls if they wanted to sleep since Hitomi and I were going to offer prayers at the temple. They asked if they could come with us and I allowed it because I believe that close family should share the first visit.

We made our donations and offered our prayers and took our charms and fortunes.

Mine said that trouble is a storm on the distant horizon and if I am skilled at the navigation of life, I will sail around it and remain in calm seas this year. Hitomi and the girls also received positive outlooks for this coming year so the future looks bright.
We all went home to sleep.


The restaurant was closed on New Year's day but Rina, I and Hitomi were down there in the restaurant kitchens making tea and rice cakes and stew for our first family gathering of the year.

I want to wish every single one of you a wonderful New Year, may it be happy and prosperous.