johanna’s journey

Akemashita Omedetou*
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I reached out to cling to some old, ancient traditions – spanning across time and the oceans to my ancestors – from here: the Arizona desert.

Here I stand with an entire open slate of possibility before me marked by open calendar days and pages of journals yet unscribed. Looking forward while still grounding myself with pieces of our old, ancient past. Remembering having stood at these chapter markers of my past. Jumping up and down at midnight to grow tall. With grapes for bounty, noodles for long life. Omochi, Sake, Natto, Kobumaki, Kuromame, Kazunoko, Kurikinton… all kinds of osechi. Full salt and rice containers in the house. Japanese flute music in the morning, and sometimes kimonos. This has been our story. The story of generations. For my family growing up, Japan’s traditions combined with those of the Philippines.

And now, from the desert, we add American football. Ode to merging the old with the new….. It’s a beautiful journey.
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Cheers to New Beginnings. To endless Possibility, Potential, Hope, and Inspiration.
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Happy New Year Everyone!