Goodbye Noriko

On May 4 I turned 37. I had a really nice day, with a Kahuna massage from Michelle and dinner with Brian and the kids at our favourite Japanese restaurant in Broadbeach, Cha Cha. We had the usual: Chicken katsu for Brian, Fish teriyaki for myself, Tempura udon for Sophia and Tendon for Sage. There was the obligatory ocha and side dish of oshinko. We just love that kim-chi.

Then I got up the next day, checked my emails and was saddened to hear that our friend Noriko had died the night before.

She was only 36. Her little boy, Eita is the same age as Sage. We saw her only seven months ago, in Osaka.

It sank in as I read the email that if we hadn't seen her in Japan, we would never have had the chance to say goodbye. Of course, we didn't realise it would be our last meeting.

She was one of our closest friends during the time we worked in Japan, teaching English together. She was so sweet, with a gentleness and kindness that the adults and kids loved alike.

We invited her to stay when we were settled back in Australia. We really thought that of the several friends whom we similarly invited over, she would be one to take up the offer.

Why do we live so deluded that we think the people we love will always be around? Why do we live like we have all the time in the world, when there's no guarantee that we'll even wake up again the next morning?

Thank you Noriko for being our friend. I'm so glad we got to see you before you left. Goodbye Noriko.