Time is a funny thing. It sometimes passes so quickly, you can hardly catch your breath and often comment, "where did the time go?' Other times, it drags it's feet as if stuck in a quagmire. You think, "wow, will this day ever end?" As a teacher, I mark time by school years. I break that down into events that happen within a given time frame. When I taught First Grade, I marked time by major holidays or seasonal happenings. Now, teaching 4th Graders, it's different. More like from Unit test to Unit test, report card grading period. But, still, overall, it's by the school year. This one has passed very quickly, yet it seems like an age ago I landed in Tokyo to start my new life. It's kind of an puzzlement. Here it is, only 6.5 weeks left 'til June 9 when the school year officially ends. Only that much time left to cram everything in that I wanted to cover. Only that much time until my fabulous brother leaves for the States for good, he's retiring. It has been such a blessing to be spending this time with him. He's always been a huge fan of mine. He's always cheered me on and was there for me during some pretty rough years after John died. He would call me every Friday night without fail for 5 years. We landed in Tokyo in August. He showed me around my new neighborhood of Yoga. He showed me the train system, where to find food, shop, how to figure out Yen. We went on great weekend outings to Kamakura, Yokahama, a million (almost) Buddhist Shrines and Temples. He showed me the Hard Rock Cafe, Hobgobblins, Roppongi, Shabuya, and a bunch of other sites every tourist must see. We have traveled either by train or on foot to school and home daily. We've dashed into 7-11 or Fuji for a snack, or for lunch or for a Diet Pepsi. We have stopped at McDonald's and eaten an ice cream cone and watched the people passing by. We have eaten a whole dinner and claimed we just stopped in for snack. We have gone to Ali Babba's for yummy curry. At school, he has introduced me to so many people who adore him. He always has a smile on his face, the boys will yell, "Hey, Mr. Johnson" as we go down the hill to catch the train at the Eki. He showed me where to eat lunch, how to find things and tricks to make my life easier at St. Mary's. He's let the missionaries come to my apt. and he's sat in and listen to their message. He'll always listen to me, when I am happy, sad, angry, frustrated, whatever. He'll give me words of encouragement, cheer me on and let me know he believes in me. He'll tell me endless stories, give me morsels of advice, or just entertain me with pearls of wisdom. He'll advise me, to always have an umbrella or two at school and the same at home. You never know. So, as time winds down, and he gets ready to leave, I will miss him terribly. I couldn't have made it here without him. Sure, I could have, but not nearly as easily, it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun. Looking down the road, as I continue living here, a part of him will remain. I'll conjure up a memory or two at unexpected moments and smile. He gets to go home. He gets to retire and enjoy McCall and Dad and Kent and look forward to more adventures. I'll get to go visit and catch up with him. I'll get to listen to his laugh and his great words of advice, mingled in with his stories. Time, it's getting away from me, yet it's here and now. I don't want to miss a minute of it.