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My mom called me the other day while I was working out at the gym, which is noteworthy in itself in that my parents never call me. I can count on one hand the number of times my mom has called me for anything; she also had never seen my previous apartment. My parents get on me all the time for never calling or too infrequently stopping by to visit, but apparently it's not a two-way street with them. But I'm not bitter. I'll psychoanalyze my close-from-a-distance relationship with them another day.
Anyway, the caller ID on my cell that afternoon was a number I did not recognize. I checked the message, and it was my mom asking me to call her. Was she calling from a friend's house? I panicked, thinking someone must either be dead or in the hospital to warrant the call. I dialed the IDed number; no answer. I called my parents' home number -- which incredibly has not changed since they bought their house 20 years ago -- to leave a message, and my mom picked up. "O Reen. Kaoru call." (My immediate family and some of my close friends call me Lynn because of my middle name, and that's how my mom pronounces it in Engrish.)
She explained that my second cousin Kaoru, whom I had e-mailed a couple of weeks ago, only recently read my e-mail because he was in the hospital. He sent his apologies for not responding.
Whew. He's the only relative I have there who speaks both English and Japanese. I really had my fingers crossed that he'd get back to me. I was hoping he'd accompany us to my mom's hometown. It's a rural area, and the chances are good that there aren't nearly as many English-speakers there as in Tokyo.
I'm sorry to hear that he was in the hospital. My mom wasn't sure what for. He's out of the hospital now, but he's probably still not 100%. So I don't know whether he'll be able to accompany us out of Tokyo. He at least wants to take us out to dinner one night. I'm looking forward to that but have to admit to being a little nervous about meeting relatives I don't know or haven't seen in nearly 25 years.
Wish me luck.
Current mood: Restless
P.S. The unidentified phone number from which my mom called was her cell number. I had no idea she had a cell phone. "O, I have long time." Thanks for telling me.
Replies: 3 shoutouts
Oh, she doesn't own a restaurant; she works at a Japanese restaurant in Epcot...
Posted by Huffy @ 05/15/2003 08:14 AM EST
what is your mom's restaurant?
Posted by tiff @ 05/07/2003 12:22 AM EST
Ate at yer mom's restaurant on Sunday -- she wasn't there. Nice meal, though.
Posted by ~ @ 05/06/2003 02:04 PM EST