Breath of fresh Tokyo air

Ok...so I feel like I've been overly womp womp lately.... To the extent that I'm making parental units and friends a little nervous. Let me assure you, all is well- I'm ok!!! Promise. Apparently I don't handle change as well as I thought. Ha!! Who would've thunk it.

So here I sit, drinking a pumpkin latte from Tully's, while I sit outside of Seattle's Best. I know totally rebellious right?! But they have outdoor seating at SB...and I bought a scone I'm not going to eat in order to appease my guilt and minimize my chance of getting thrown out. So yes, quite rebellious.

Today is Wyatt's late day- he comes home at 6 from Kendo, so I thought blogging sounded like an optimal choice as opposed to doing the millions of dishes and piles of laundry in my little apartment. I could also go for a run, but well.....maybe later after I build up my pumpkin spice latte love handles a bit more.
I've got a bunch to write about, I'm just not sure how or where to start ....SO in the spirit of remaining positive to convince you all I'm not flying over the cuckoos nest, let's talk Tokyo.
One of my best girlfriend's is Japanese and her home town IS the aforementioned Tokyo. She was one of the first friendly faces I met 4 years ago in Taipei, and we forged a strong connection. I love her.

She moved back to Japan at the same time we did and as friends always do, we promised to stay in touch, making the solemn vow that September would be the month I would come and see her.
Please. How many of us say such things, but in the back of their head's feel it is but a pipe dream.
No, I'm sure none of you. It's just me.
This time was different. Not only did I say I was going, I needed to go. By the bullet train, the Shinkansen, she's only 4 1/2 hours away....I started mentally packing.
Mid-September, Wyatt had a Monday holiday from school and businesses' had off....Will had off. YES!!! I was getting out of dodge.
Despite a small ticket snafu in which I failed to bring all my pre-purchased tickets with me from home, and the fact that I was stuck in the Tokyo station with no way out but for my sweet girlfriend to tell the ticketmaster I could not handle getting a refund back in Hiroshima and that I had no friends to help me, they released me..
No friends I asked her? Really? It worked! Was her reply. Indeed...and not so far fetched; I mean let's get real.
Tokyo. I am so freaking excited to explore Japan. What an amazing, beautiful country. I pictured Tokyo, colder, less inviting, a city ready to suck you in and spit you out. With its tree lined streets, bustling energy and colorful people, shops, and amazing food, I didn't want to leave. Well....with the exception of Will and Wyatt of course......
The weather was unbelievable- the sky was clear, blue , sunny, and we just walked until our feet were throbbing. She brought me to a handful of differing districts where we walked, shopped, ate, got our hair done, ate, saw the obligatory temples, alleyways, climbed the overlook to look at the city skyline at night an then walked some more. We caught up, sang karaoke, ate some more and just thoroughly enjoyed being together.
For the first time since I had been here, Japan felt like home.

Side Note- Her daughter can now sing Billy Joel's piano man like it's her JOB while I, on the other hand can sing SK8TR BOI like it's mine. WIN.