One Year Ago...

On FaceBook last night, I wrote "One year ago today...love and miss you so much, dad..." and the loving words of support from my friends (even the ones that lurk! lol!) poured in. WOW. Thank you - I needed that. I have to say the power of FaceBook is amazing :0)

I posted A Tribute to My Dad last September and it was a nice reminder of what my dad was all about. Also in that post, I included a picture of him that I took the day I left for home - it was the only picture during my stay that he looked his best. Today I'd like to share an ATC I created using his picture from his school days (I think junior high or high school) in the late 1930s to early 40s...

Dad by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Patterned Paper: Donna Salazar; Dies, Punches (dad) and craft foils: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; Embellishment: Advantus; Adhesive: ScraPerfect

We had a small family memorial service at home - it's handy to have a Buddhist priest as your hubby! LOL!! The rest of the family held the memorial service at the family temple in Japan so he was "covered" on both countries :0)

Never created an ATC with a picture in it. Have you? I like this idea and plan to use it more often!

Thanks for stopping by!

Japan Trip - Day 3

10/23 in ITAMI/ATAMI

The sun rising over the mountains in OSAKA. I took this picture from our hotel window. It was a beautiful sunny day.

This day was the main event - Dad's Memorial Service at our family temple (MYOSENJI) in ITAMI located in HYOGO KEN/Prefecture. A prefecture is an equivalent to a state in the U.S. It is located next to OSAKA which is where we stayed the night before.

SHIJU KUNICHI (literal translation: 49th Day) service was held first. On the 49th day after the death of a person, it is assumed that the deceased has begun their new life in the land of the dead. It is also believed that the final judgement is passed on the deceased on the 49th day with a good, respectable person going to heaven or a less respectable person going to one of the other realms of hell. Families hold these services so that the sutras and prayers they chant for the deceased can help improve the judgement rendered on the deceased.

We also had a NOKOTSU service (entombment). It was decided to do two ceremonies since the whole family was present. It was so nice to see everyone despite the occasion. My two surviving aunts on my father's side attended and a couple of my cousins.

After having a nice lunch and spending some time together talking about memories of my father, we had to say good-bye with the promise to keep in touch :)

We went back to OSAKA and got our bags from the hotel. Next stop was to ATAMI in SHIZUOKA Pref. (near TOKYO). It's known for its ocean resort and hot springs. It was our stop (and laundry stop - LOL!) before we headed to the TOHOKU (Northeastern) Region of Japan.

Taka enjoying his SUSHI dinner after we settled into ATAMI. Love how the Japanese travel. I would say most of the hotels/inns have YUKATA (cotton KIMONO and in this case, used as PJs and outer wear) with short jackets, and amenities such as toothbrush/toothpaste, hand towels, etc. so all one needs is a change of clothes. Throughout the trip, you will see us in these outfits.

Japan Trip - Day 2

10/22 in Tokyo/Kyoto.

We hopped on the SHINKANSEN (Bullet Train) and head off to Kyoto. Today was the first day for DOSHISHA Int'l High School to accept applications for the entrance exams. Hosho thought it would be a great idea to see the campus first hand...maybe motivate Taka a little bit.

Gotta love that JR Rail Pass, we got on without a hitch. When we arrived in KYOTO, the first thing we wanted to do was eat lunch! LOL! So off to HAMAMURA for RAMEN! YUM!!

Then we went directly to the DOSHISHA campus where they house the University, the Women's College and the International High School. It was impressive but the 15 minute uphill walk nearly killed me! This is the entrance to the high school.

Then we went to OSAKA and met my MIL who stayed with us at the hotel. She was also attending my father's memorial in ITAMI/HYOGO Pref. (the neighboring prefecture to OSAKA). The boys were so excited to see her - it's been six years since they last saw each other. She was surprised to see how tall they had gotten.

Here's a picture of my MIL with my youngest, Hiro, in OSAKA Station. Sorry for the blurred picture but if you didn't move, you would be trampled by a sea of people (yes, another Japanese rush hour...sigh). LOL!

We headed to this restaurant that served FUGU (Blowfish) dishes. Hosho found a licensed FUGU chef that made our wonderful dinner! Blowfish are poisonous - a chef needs to learn how to cut and serve this specialized dish - that's where the license comes in :)

After dinner, we walked it off by wandering around the area. Then off to bed. Another productive day and tomorrow will be the big event - my dad's memorial :)

Craft Test Dummies

Hey all!

My family and I just got back from Japan. As most of you know, my father passed away last month and we had his memorial in ITAMI (near Osaka) at the family temple. I haven't downloaded the pictures yet but will share when I get a chance.

What I do want to share is a review on TaDa Creative Studios' newest product lines introduced at Summer Craft & Hobby Assoc. (CHA) Trade Show. The review is from Craft Test Dummies (dot) Com. You've seen my take on the Gingerbread house but look at how they made their version. VERY cute! So take a look at what they had to say and leave comment too!

Will post soon!
Off to pass out :0)
MargieH xo

A Tribute to My Father...

Hello all!
I've been off for a good reason but miss being back in my old routine.

Going back to the reason...my dear sweet father passed away during the Labor Day weekend (Sunday, Sept 5th) in Los Angeles. My family and I are sadden and heartbroken BUT we realized that he had a WONDERFUL LIFE - all 84 years of it!

Ittoku "Bud" Fujii
January 1926 - September 2010

Things About Dad:
- Born in Shanghai, China
- Was one of six siblings
- Father (my grandfather) was an international lawyer
- From kindergarten, wanted to be an international businessman
- Graduate of prestigious Tokyo University
- Named PANASONIC and now the whole company (Matsushita Electric
  Corp.) was renamed to PANASONIC worldwide
- Help phrase PANASONIC's tagline "Just Slightly Ahead Of Its Time"
- Started his own company (import/export-related) in his late 50s
- ALWAYS thinking about business! LOL!
- Married to mom for 50 years (they celebrated this year on May 23rd)

He will be sorely missed especially by my mother. She is holding up as best she can but I think it will hit her when she returns to Japan and the dust settles a little. It is interesting that the day he passed (Sept. 5th) was the same day he first took my mother to the U.S. - a little fact that my brother shared with me.

Although I have been apart from my parents for over 20+ years, my father was always there when I needed him especially when it came to my career decisions. I am proud of how he changed things in the Japan corporate world then and how it has evolved now.

Many, many thanks to all the emails, cards and expressions of sympathy from all of you. Words cannot describe how touched my family and I are. THANK YOU!!

Rest In Peace, Dear Dad!

OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA! xo