journal features

mamatomo party

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2009.09.19

Today we had several families over to say goodbye to Sam, Keiko-san, Ma-chan and Akari-chan. It's a sad thing saying goodbye to good friends, but the kids had a ball.

No pun intended, har har. Kenny held his own with the older boys for the most part. He really is indestructible. And what a party animal—he'd been fussing and fighting the whole day until the guests arrived. From that point on he was all smiles.

We presented the Mashams and the other families with a book to commemorate our time with the Mashams.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering