Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu (Happy New Year)

I've started this post around 8:30 pm local time, which means it'll be the last one of 2005 for us. Reflecting on the past year, it's hard to believe that our path led us to where we are tonight, preparing for our first New Year's Eve here in Japan. Even six months ago, if you had asked me where we'd be for New Year's Eve, I would have listed at least 108 cities before coming up with Yokosuka-shi. But here we are and I couldn't be any happier.

We decided to be mellow when we ring in the new year. I have been feeling a cold/flu bug approaching for the past day or so and I don't have much energy right now. Also, with Josh as young as he is, we didn't want to get lost in Tokyo somewhere late and have to fight the other party-people for the last train back down south. But it'll be nice to sit at home under the kotatsu, toss back a couple sips of warm sake, and watch the festivities on television.

From all of us at The Japan Years to all of you reading this from your computer monitors, Happy New Year and Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu. We hope your 2006 is filled with joy, laughter, and love.

Kanpai (Cheers),

Mike, Nicki, and Joshua