I’ve mentioned several times how I am surrounded by what I would classify as anorexic people here in Japan. My blogs have also indicated how I just don’t understand how these stick-thin women sit next to me at the ramen restaurants and scarf down a huge bowl of ramen without taking a breath. Then, the other day I was grocery shopping at Meidiya (this is my splurge grocery store) and I came across this basket:

Breakfast of Champions

The Japanese are geniuses. I mean, campfire toasted flavored marshmallow! But kids, there’s more! Why wait until the end of dinner? Why not have a few of these babies melted on a buttered piece of toast for breakfast? I’ve come to the conclusion that the Japanese are all hyperthyroid, bulimic, or closet exercisers. I wonder where marshmallows fall in the food pyramid?

Just when I thought I couldn’t experience anymore 1st’s, I was invited to attend my first Baby Shower. It was held at the very prestigious Roppongi Hills Club and it was my first time going there. I must admit it was very swanky and made me glad I was sporting my “good shoes”. They had a very cute slide show with well-wishes from all the guests and friends. After we ate, everyone played traditional baby shower games:

Who can drink the champagne from a baby bottle fastest?

Seeing my friend Yuki glowing with her impending baby boy, I admit I was feeling jealous. She is the 2nd of my friends to be going through this “phase” of new babydom at this point in our lives. Don’t get me wrong, if an angel came down one day and told me I had to carry the Second Coming, of course, I would do it. Barring this occurring, I am hoping the newest addition to our family will look more like this:

Mini Schnauzer

In case you are wondering what puppies like this cost here in Tokyo:

$5,075-$5,608

This doesn’t include the mandatory insurance and microchip.

I’m pretty sure babies cost more (this is what I keep telling Cliff) as I continue to search for the perfect breeder… again (take that any way you like . At the end of the baby shower, we gave Yuki her gift:

Hermes’ Baby Shoes & Layette!

I also gave Yuki a pair of blue baby slippers I had picked up in Beijing. It was nothing extravagant but it was something I did because I had just heard her news after returning from mom’s funeral. At the time, I knew she was trying to get pregnant and I knew she wished for a boy. The irony of it was the first dream mom made an appearance in had me telling her I was pregnant. Then, literally a day later I heard Yuki was pregnant. When Cliff and I were trying to get pregnant ourselves, it took a long time. I remember being filled with self-doubt. I remember the disappointment I felt every month when that stick refused to change colors and how I felt all my old Catholic School guilt coming back to haunt me. Pointing an accusing finger at me, reminding me of all my past transgressions. Then, one night after I had had yet another negative test result, we received news from a close friend that her father had died. I was terribly sad for her, but then something inside me just whispered, “Kathryn, take another test.” So the next day, I took another test and it ended up being positive. I remember hearing once that with every death there is a birth. It is the natural cycle of life. Depending on which end of that cycle you are on, you can either be really happy or really sad. The good news is, it’s a circle.

Until next time…