old friends

Gardena High classmates finally caught me for the first sighting in 36 years! It was painless.

 

 

 Highly successful JAs (Japanese-Americans) who are remarkably faithful to their community - maintaining ties to jr high teachers - even after studying back east where some settled, such as Karen above. Doug turned out to be a Christian home-schooler!

Paul saved the city of Gardena from bankruptcy, serving as mayor, but turning down a bid for national politics; Helen a mild social activist, as well as attorney - both from elementary school days.

Jane, whose perfectly designed, Malibu home hosted the event cooked all the familiar dishes - country-style sushi, teriyaki chicken wings, wontons, even subs from hometown favorite, Giuliano's. Jr and High school had some of the best spreads. Felt great to be welcomed with a plate and pair of ohashi (chopsticks).

The tail end of a coherent, sansei (3rd generation) JA culture, they were somewhat shielded from social chaos - divorce, drugs, AIDs - though not entirely. Ignoring the world while succeeding in it, they spoke all evening of being protected in Gardena.One whitey among them!  Curiously, the greatest affection seemed among fellow elementary students, which, curiously, is the class identity individuals in Japan track, with kindergarten reunions. Eager for contact, no one seemed to mind that I'd basically blown them off for 3.5 decades.

My parents coming from a small Japanese fishing village put me somewhat at odds with the above, probably explaining my trajectory - my best friends were non-Japanese throughout school, although JAs tend to marry outside their ethnicity, compared to other Asians - 1/2 of the group, in fact - so the above experience was unique.

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Michael got a wonderfully decorated card from a fellow Lausanner, Sofi:

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Jeffrey and Mary in high school!

An xmas visit to the Bay Area allowed a layover to the Lancasters, whom we first met in Tokyo, where Jeffrey was born.

Suzuki cello and violin.

 

Homeschooled until recently, the older ones play and actually enjoy the younger. Seeing them is always flash forward for us, where our boys will be before we blink an eye.