Thursday, December 11, 2008

Meet My Mom & Sis....

Sis T, Mom & Maki
Today, I am doing MamaKat's writing assignment - this is my second try.

And I picked prompt #5: Who is the best listener you know? What makes him or her such a good listener?

The answer is very easy. I must say the best listener I know is my Mom. And I think I have to add my younger sister T right next to her. I usually don't talk about my family back in Japan and Hawaii. It is hard for me to talk about them because I miss them terribly and honestly, more I think about them, I get sad and start to cry. But today's prompt was hard to pass, so I decided to be strong and talk about my beloved family...

My Mom and Dad raised me and my sister by continuously saying, "Sister and sister, love each other and help each other..." My sister and I are only 18 month apart, so we're really close in age and whatever we did, we did together. I left Japan to study English at tender age of 15. Then my sister soon followed me after she graduating her high school in Tokyo.

Anyway, I am the baby in the family. I cry easily and tend to act like a little child even I am 35 and oldest daughter. If something happened between me and JT, I would call my mom or my sis T right away. And they are always there for me.

My Mom is an angel and she is my rock. I don't even know what I'd do without her. She is not judgemental. She just listens whatever I have to say. Even when I become emotional wreck and I could be saying something foolish, but my Mom always corrects the wrong for me by saying something really sweet. She wakes me up from those bad thoughts or feelings.

My younger sis T also has Mom's trait. She is a very good listener. She also gives me a very good advise whenever I need it. It's funny how I always call her and ask, "So what do you think??" - then she always has an answer for me!!! She is a very leveled individual who is a lot mature than me who is in fact, older than her. Kind of embarrassing, but oh well. LOL. And my sister knows everything about me - she even knows my darkest secrets that most of my friends or family don't know (and what would that be one might ask?? ? ).

On the other hand, I, Maki is a terrible listener or so does my sis T tell me. And I think the jury may agree with sis T. Don't get me wrong, I have had many friends come to me crying about their boyfriends or husbands and I have been there for them. But, I tend to butt in too much and try to solve their problems instead of just "listen"... Sometimes what people need is a friend who just listens to their problems, right?

So, I am truly grateful and fortunate to have such wonderful liseners in my life - my Mom and sis T (sorry Dad, I love you, but you're like me, not a good listener, but great at giving advise). It breaks my heart that they are thousands miles away. My dad always tell me when I call them crying homesick, "Even we're far away, our love will never change or fade. Distance won't matter..." - and I know he's right. And my Mom always say that I have a new family; JT, Ju Ju and Soapy. She is right about that too... But then, I think I'm allowed to miss my parents and my sister, aren't I?? If I miss them so much, does that make me a bad wife or bad mother? I just don't know..

Now I am getting sad again.. I think about my Mom who is on dialysis, who don't get to hold my daughters or see them grow up via live. Or my sister, who truly cherish, adore and love my daughters... And my Dad who would do anything for me or my sis or my girls. I miss them so much.

I tried the same photo above with my Mom, only this time I'm the Mom

This is last year's Christmas

Sis T & Mom

Me, Soapy & T

31 comments:

The Rambler said...

Aww Maki....What a sweet story. I totally get the distance thing. I'm sure I would be very sad if my mother wasn't a part of my daughters life. My sister and her kids live in Pennsylvania and we miss her here in Hawaii. ((sigh))

Anywho, I loved the pic of you in the early days and an exact replica with you and YOUR daughters. So so sweet.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely family you have and I think it's so very sweet that you miss your family so much. I hope that you'll get the chance to see them before long. Happy Holidays!

Kendall said...

This was wonderful. I love the pictures and they made me miss my (unofficial) adopted mom who is Boston.

Sorry for being so haphazard about commenting, for some reason you don't show up in my blogroll and I forget to check Google Reader. A mistake I intend to correct

Rachel said...

The pictures are adorable! It's so great to hear about the relationship you have with your mom!

Sandra said...

Hi Maki... I just have to tell you ... when I was in High school, we took in two Japanese exchange students a year to live with us for a month at a time. Our very first student was Maki Nakatani, and she was from Osaka.
You aren't her... ARE YOU? When I saw you...I about died...you look just like her!

Your girls are lovely... It must be awful to be so far away from your Mom and Dad... but your Dad is right.
Happy Holidays!

House Wife said...

Beautiful picture! Hopefully you will be able to see your family soon! I hope you hve a merry Christmas! BTW... Your girls are soooo beautiful!

Brandy said...

That's a sweet story and you are so lucky to have a close family, even when you are far away. Your dad may not be a good listener but he sounds pretty wise.

Anonymous social worker said...

oh what a wonderful family you have!
I'm am the black sheep of my family, don't worry i like it that way.
loveky pics

Mama Dawg said...

That is so sweet.

But, I have to confess, I was distracted by your pic of James Dean on the left. I ADORE James Dean. So much so, that I named my cat J.D. after him.

Michelle said...

How lucky you are to have two fabulous women in your life!

Laura @ My Thoughts-Uninterrupted said...

I love your post today. It's always nice to have a good listener around. I think you have a right to miss them. I know I would miss my family terribly if they were that far away.

I love the idea of doing the same pose for your Christmas picture! Your tree is beautiful too by the way!

Diane said...

Your entire family is just so beautiful!

I really enjoyed reading your post. I'm sorry you are homesick. =(

Melissa said...

Your kids are so cute!

Kaitlyn said...

Your entire family is adorable! I like this writing prompt, I may have to try this sometime :)

KatBouska said...

I love all the pictures. Your family is beautiful and it's so nice to have close people we can count on like that!!

Maki said...

The Rambler: I think my life would be perfect if I have my parents and sister ( i guess i have to include her hubs. lol) together in Hawaii w/ my girls and JT. That is all I want..

blueviolet: Thank you very much. I do hope so that I get to see them real soon. Happy Hollidays!

The Odd Duck: Aw thank you. Do you get to see your adopted mom in Boston a lot? Please don't worry about it - your comment is always appreciated whenever you can:)

Rachel: Thank you so much... I love my mom!

Saundra: I hate to disappoint you, but no, I'm not your Maki Nakatani. lol. But I hope she was a nice girl. Thank you - your family is adorable too! And Happy Holiday!!!

House Wife: Thank you, girl!! I hope so, too - And I am loving your new profile photo! Beautiful!!

Brandy: Thank you so much - yes, I am lucky to have my family. And my Dad? You're right - he's wise.

Franco: Aww, you really think you're the black sheep?? Well, at least you like the idea, then I won't be worrying:)

Michell: Thank you so much!

Laura: Thank you so much for your kind words.. I'm really touched by it. I think we're going to shoot another Christmas photo in front of the tree. BTW, I'm working on the virus story:)

Diane: I'm glad you enjoyed reading the post. And thank you so much - I'm indeed homesick, but I guess I have to learn to cope with it..

Melissa: Thank you!! Would you like to babysit?

kaitlyn: Thanks! And yes, you should try - it's really fun:)

Maki said...

Kathy: Thank you so much:) It's important to stay close as family - because that's what family is for, right? I adore your family, too!

Anonymous said...

Awww our mom's sound very similar. I wish I had a sister, I'm envious. Oh and by the way...you look like you are in your early twenties (at the most).

Nicole Marie said...

this is so sweet. My sister and I are 14 months apart so I know what you mean.

and i love that you re-created the picture with you and your mom and sister. It would be so great to have generations of that photo lining a fireplace mantel :)

Angela said...

ahh.... a family of looker.

Unknown said...

OMG...that pic with you and your mom and sis?!?!?! Priceless!!!

You are beautiful with your girls!

Bayjb said...

What a sweet story and what a beautiful family!

Maki said...

dolcechic: Aw thank you so much. You're so sweet! xoxo

Nicole: Wow, you guys are really close in age too! Having a sister is the best, right? Thank you:)

Savvy: LOL.. Thanks:)

Maegan: Awe thank you so much, Sweetness:)

Bayjb: Thank you Jess~~

colbymarshall said...

What a sweet and lovely family you have. "...love and help each other..." a beautiful sentiment for sisters.

LBluca77 said...

That was a really sweet story. I always wanted a sister. All I got was a dumb brother. Brothers are pointless unless you are a boy.

Sara said...

Beautiful photos! There is nothing better than being near family for the holiday. I love that I'm now the "mom" and I can create my own traditions now.

Maki said...

Colby: Thank you so much for saying that:)

Luca: Thank you. Well, I alwayws wanted a brother because I don't have one. I've always wondered what it would be like if I had a brother....

SBW: Yes, I want to recreate all the things my parents did for us when I was little.

Momma Chae said...

What a beautiful tribute!

Alev said...

Awww, that's just so sweet.. I'm glad to hear you are close with your family, some people tend to start to ignore them after they have their own. :D I'm sorry you are away from them, but they are only a phone call away. And love the pictures, so cute. ^^

Happy holidays!!

Lip Smacker said...

Oh how sweet! I love the all the pics of you and the girls, you look just like the ones with your mom and sister!

Mr. Mojo Risin' said...

....soooo lovely!

beijo para ti!

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