Carrying On

As we prepare for Father Bing's funeral on Friday, life has continued. There are so many things that required our attention we have had no time to mourn. Mother Bing has had only a few crying times. I have not done so since I have arrived. Occupy my thoughts I determined to see to my year past.

We have survived another PCS. I was not overjoyed of the return to Japan. It is not because I disliked Japan but only because I hoped to see someplace different. Since I had no choice, I made a determination to do it differently than our last tour. I will see more and do more. Their are places to be discovered and places to be revisited such as  Nabana No Sato in Kuwana.

I have another house. This time it is closer to the base so that there is no need to relocate to base housing again. I am only a five minute walk from the gate. It is sometimes nice to leave the base and pretend it is not there and to not see Navy uniforms everywhere. Do not misunderstand. I do not hate the Navy. I only need times that are not dominated by it.

I have resumed teaching at the University. It is pleasant returning to my office and discover they have changed nothing and they have vacated it for me. The intern was not as happy as I about his relocation.

It seems I will retain my title of Aunt Mei with the ship's crew. We have an ombudsman that does a wonderful job of caring for the crew and their families. I have chosen to focus on the single/solo sailors though. I have a large number of baking pans with which to make cookies  and other treats though I have used them very little so far. That will change when they are home.

I have determined there is something in the water, air, or food here in Japan. Jared and I had decided another child would be a good thing though we took no real steps to accomplish that. We had to arrive in Japan to become pregnant. Now we wait for July 6, 2020. We will also wait to see if Jared is present for this one.

Speaking of Jared, he is not here. Again. In fact, he has been away for 5 weeks so far. The ship left before Thanksgiving and remains gone with no clear indication of  its return date so far. It was my first Christmas alone. Well, not alone since Dorothy spent the day with Chao lei and I. It feels odd having present that are unwrapped sitting in the corner. Jared insisted we open our in his absence but I withheld some for his return.

It seems the Navy is compensating for late entry into the season cruise. That is likely not the case but it seems so to us. It is frustrating sometimes seeing the other ships in port while ours is absent. I am left to wonder how  will our new year play out?

Life Interrupted

Life can be cold. I have lost Father Bing unexpectedly. A sudden illness has taken him. I will go home to be with Mother Bing and Heather.

Father Bing was not truly my father. He simply welcomed me to the family and treated me as a daughter. He offered me good advice, often. He stood for my father when my father was unable. When I was to meet Jared's parents for the first time, he acted as my father and stood by me as I worried of my impressions. He wiped tears from my eyes. He encouraged me. He was unafraid to fully assume the role of father for me in my new home.

Now my heart will ache for a time because he is no longer with me just as if he were my birth father. I will miss hearing his voice when I call and his humor at my expense.

9 weeks

I am late posting this. This is my ultra sound at nine weeks. The due date is August 26. The doctor hints about gender but will not say. I cannot say by looking at this picture other than it is a baby. Jared insists it is a girl. I only hope he can prevent his family from flooding us with gender specific gifts as they did for Chao lei. It was awkward having received girl clothes for a boy. We will do a gender reveal when we discover it.

My hair has begun its rapid growth. It is hopeful Jared remembers what occurred when he spoke of a mustache when I was pregnant with Chao lei. I do not mind the thicker hair on my head but could live quite well without the mustache... or thicker leg hair. I love the longer nails though. I am hot all the time. I will assume it will end as quickly as last time.

By this time, Chao lei had determined I was not to eat dumplings, spices, or drink coffee. This one has not given me its preferences yet. I can easily go without spices and coffee, though I did miss them very much. Dumplings though, they are my weakness. I would get very fat very quickly if I indulge in them recklessly. I attempt to appease this baby by not overindulging in anything. I have been using less spice and limiting my coffee and drinking tea instead. The dumplings? I only hope little one enjoys them since I am unable to curtail my eating of them anymore than is necessary.

I have begun the search for a crib and nursery furniture. Remembering the effort to get my rocker to my office and my reluctance to go through that again, I will need to buy a new one. I may even allow Jared to choose the crib again, if he ever gets home.

It seems they make up for the ship missing deployment by keeping them underway. This time has only been a month so far but add that to the weeks they were gone before with only a few days at home. They have been sailing since we arrived. It would seem they believed I needed to be reminded of what sea duty really is. I am not complaining, mind you. I knew to expect this.

We will see how much of this pregnancy Jared will be present for. He was absent for most of it the last time, including the birth. Now maybe, he will learn what the rest of pregnancy means. lol

A Little Rant

Finals are approaching and the inevitable has begun. It seems students believe their urgency to prepare is also mine. I do sympathize with them to a point as it is a lot of information to process. I will not bend to their demands of large amounts of my time since it is they who have put off the necessary until now. Besides, if I gave the time they demand, I would have none remaining for me.

I will assist them as I may but it will be inside the schedule I have already set and posted. That requires them to schedule an appointment by calling my office and meeting there. Would you believe some have requested my personal phone number or to meet them somewhere convenient to them? Of course I refuse.

I have had parents call and insist I give their child priority and special considerations. Really? Are these not adults attending university? Do they require parental intervention? It is difficult to not penalize the student for this even though sometimes I desperately desire to. It is especially difficult when the student inquires if their parent has spoken to me yet. To that, so far, I have replied yes and left it at that.

I have wondered of acquiring teaching credentials and taking a position at Kinnick High School on the base. Perhaps there I could better prepare students for university. It is a tempting idea.

End rant. Life is good.

On to December!

This was the first holiday this tour Jared was underway. I am sure there will be many more. At the least we had s few minutes of facetime. I was given the usual... cannot say where we are... cannot say when we will return... you know, the usual. He says they had a traditional dinner but he missed my "unique" twists on the dinner. Since it is an American invented holiday, I do not toy much with the traditional menu. I only include foods I enjoy.

 I was not without the company of sailors though. Relax. They were both female and quite entertaining. Chao lei loved the attention he received from them. The Navy, in its wisdom, assigned to me two enlisted sailors. It is not that I have a prejudice against enlisted but given how awkward some people become, it is likely a fortunate thing that the Commander was not here. I usually insist rank be left at the door but the separation is so ingrained it is difficult for people to relax. The fact that Jared was not home allowed my guest to relax which made me happy.

The weather has gotten better. At the least, it is not as dreary as Thanksgiving day. Now we see moments of sunshine in the afternoon between rain showers. I would have enjoyed taking a walk but it was too miserable. With the passing of the holiday, Chao lei has returned to school so there is no one to share the improving weather with.

It is just as well. I return to the classroom tomorrow and for the remainder of the week. Worse yet, finals approach. I have already posted much information and offered a schedule for receiving help. Some have been intelligent and sought assistance early, some will wait until late and some will be thick and ask too late. We are in the late category now. I expect my inbox to explode beginning this week. lol

The sun is forecasted to be out on Sunday. Perhaps, as a reward for not abandoning students, I will join it with a hike or perhaps a shopping walk.