I've been getting excited about Japan more and more. I've been praying to prepare myself for the culture shift. What I mean is that, what I have inferred about the culture from documentaries, TV shows, music, etc. will need to be adapted, shifted, to become a reality understanding instead of what I know from the faulty acumen of media. I am really indecisive about what kinda suitcase to take. Our family has so many, but I think I finally settled on two hard-cases. I have my carry-on bag, too. I'm also considering taking my diaper bag as my "personal item" instead of my awesome purse ETillman found for me at Kohl's weekend before last. I have only a few more shirts to determine out of my closet's cache. My laptop is amped and ready. I'm almost done with the book I wanted to read before leaving. It's yet another awesome idea and concept by this author, but her execution is always iffy, her vocabulary simplistic (even if this novel is intended for adult consumption), and her character development is narrow (yet again, her redheads are vile, rude, stubborn, and evil creatures--I hoped she would have grown up by now. Unfortunately, no.) Since Wednesday, I've been called out for not having IMB-affiliated insurance for the trip. Too bad, even to this moment, they still haven't told me what info I need about it TO get it. Tough nuggets, I'm still getting on that plane. Sunday was Mother's Day and Mum and I went to church with Nanny. That afternoon I was reading and Brian wanted to go get Mum a Mother's Day Tiramisu like she loves. So we got that and the girl in the deli who helped us was a girl I went to school with since middle school. "Hey! How are things?" Angela asked, the drudgery of her task brightened by her sudden recollection.
"I'm ... doing great. I don't have a job right now, but things are looking up! What have you been up to?" My inquiry dodged the focus away from my withheld information.
"Not much, just working here for now."
"Thank you for helping us! Take care, okay?"
"Definitely, have a nice day," she said with a smile. Angela always used to smile. On our way out, I told Brian I knew her from middle school. He then said, "I was afraid you'd brag about graduating college and all of that." I turned to look at him, kinda puzzled. "How would that have been benefit to either of us?" I asked, still thrown off by what he said. "Eh, some people would brag about that." His tone was flat. "...Oh." Today, Yvonne came up to take Nanny to a Mother's Day lunch. Yesterday, Mum and I took her to the Clock, our family's number 1 anywhere to eat. We agreed to keep it a secret. When Yvonne asked where to go, I suggested the Clock, and we went. There, I told Yvonne I saw a girl I knew from middle school working at Publix. The following took place. "Did you tell her you graduated college last week?" She asked.
"No. No need to. I told her I didn't have a job but I was looking."
"What do you mean?" Incredulity filled her voice. "You're gonna be an intern."
"I'm not getting paid, so it isn't really a job," was accompanied by a mere shrug.
"Dumbass!" Yvonne couldn't believe her ears. "Did you tell her you were going to Japan?"
"No. I mean, there was no need to brag about that, either. She just asked how I was and I told her I was doing great."
"Double dumbass." Contempt written across her face.
That did it.
"Just because I'm not a braggart bitch doesn't make me a dumbass. It wouldn't have done either of us any good for me to brag." I tried to keep the antagonism out of my voice as much as I could. I wasn't doing a great job, though.
"Well she asked you how you were. You're succeeding in big things, so you should have told her." Yvonne continued to pressure, trying to make her argument valid.
"Humilty sounds like it would be a death sentence for some." My voice was flat. Thankfully, that ended the whole thing. I changed from the subject by offering Mum the last of a special Strawberry shake. Then Nanny said she was finished. Mum and Nanny were blocking that last moment out or weren't paying attention from the start. Either way, would you put up with your jealous aunt, who talks down about you to the rest of your family, and talks down the rest of your family to you, calling you a dumbass straight to your face? I would like to think I did that without sinning. I'm trying to do a lot more things without sinning. That will take even more prayer, but I want to be able to do it. And be humble as much as I can as well, because I used to want to be a big jerk about my blessings. Now I'm trying to steer away from it and prevent from being prideful. ぢゃね。 | 
